Question

Two boxes of apples contain a total of 24 apples. If you halve the number of apples in the first box and add 4 apples to the second box, the total changes to 20 apples. How many apples are in each box initially?

Answer 1

12 and 12
18 and 6
16 and 8
10 and 14

Answer 2

Make two equations again
x+y=24
\[\frac{ 1 }{ 2 }x+(y+4)=20\]
subtract 4 on both sides and you get
1/2x+y=16
(x+y=24) - (1/2x+y=16)= \[\frac{ -1 }{ 2 }x=8\]
Divide by -1/2 on both sides and x=16
x represents the first box and y represents the second box
so 16+y=24
y=8 meaning there are 8 apples in the second box
Answer is 16 and 8