Problema Solution

Sue is packing boxes for a removal company. She packed 55 boxes in 5 hours. Since she is getting better at it, each hour she packs 2 more boxes than the previous hour. How many did she pack in the last hour.

Answer provided by our tutors

lets assume Sue packed x boxes in the first hour


second hour she packed 2 more boxes than the previous hour that is: x + 2


third hour she packed 2 more boxes than the previous hour that is: x + 2 + 2 = x + 2*2


fourth hour she packed 2 more boxes than the previous hour that is: x + 2*2 + 2 = x + 2*3


fifth hour she packed 2 more boxes than the previous hour that is: x + 2*3 + 2 = x + 2*4


She packed total of 55 boxes in 5 hours thus


x + x + 2 + x + 2*2 + x + 2*3 + x + 2*4 = 55


by solving we find


x = 7


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7 + 2*4 = 15


Sue packed 15 boxes in the last hour.