The correct answer is:
If she wants the same number of pieces of each kind of fruit in each bowl (same number of melons, same number of pears, and same number of apples in each bowl), then she can put 11 pieces in each of 4 bowls.
Explanation:
To answer this, we find the greatest common factor (GCF) of all 3 numbers. To do this, we find the prime factorization of 8, 12 and 24:
8 = 4(2)
4 = 2(2)
→8 = 2(2)(2)
12 = 4(3)
4 = 2(2)
→12 = 2(2)(3)
24 = 4(6)
4 = 2(2)
6 = 2(3)
→24 = 2(2)(2)(3)
The GCF is made of all of the common factors. The factors common to all 3 numbers are 2 and 2; 2(2) = 4 for the GCF.
This means we can use 4 bowls.
She has a total of 8+12+24 = 44 pieces of fruit; 44/4 = 11. She would have 11 pieces of fruit in each bowl.
