Question

: While preparing a large catering order for a fruit salad, Jackie buys 15 apples, 18 oranges and 21 mangoes. All of the fruit is packed into bags. If an equal amount of fruit is packed into each bag, what is the least possible number of bags used?

Answer 1

At least 3 bags will be required to pack the fruit in equal amount.

Explanation:

Given:

Number of apples she buys =15

Number of oranges she buys = 18

Number of mangoes she buys = 21

we need to find the least possible number of bags used.

Solution:

To find the least possible number of bags required we will find the prime common factor.

Multiples of 15 =
`3* 5`

Multiples of 18 =
`3* 3* 2`

Multiples of 21 =
`3* 7`

so we can say that;

Highest common prime factor in all three numbers is 3.

Hence At least 3 bags will be required to pack the fruit in equal amount.