Answer to the Math Problem of the Week for April 1, 2014

Question:  Bernie, the owner and manager of the local bakery, has pre-packed boxes of assorted cookies. There are 16-lb boxes, 17-lb boxes, 23-lb boxes, 24-lb boxes, 39-lb boxes, and 40-lb boxes. A client comes in and asks for 100 pounds of cookies. Without breaking up any boxes, how close can Bernie come to the 100 pounds?

Answer: Four 17-pound boxes and two 16-pound boxes would allow the client to purchase exactly 100 pounds of cookies.

17 x 4 = 68
16 x 2 = 32
68 + 32 = 100