Box B contains 1/2 as many paper clips as box A box C contains 2/3 as many paper clips as box B. The average number of paper clips per box is 143. How many paper clips are there in box A?

Answer 1

Let's assume the number of paper clips in box A is x.

According to the given conditions:
Box B contains 1/2 as many paper clips as box A: Number of paper clips in box B = x/2
Box C contains 2/3 as many paper clips as box B: Number of paper clips in box C = (2/3)(x/2) = x/3

The average number of paper clips per box is 143:
( x + x/2 + x/3 ) / 3 = 143
(6x + 3x + 2x) / 6 = 143
11x = 858
x = 78

Therefore, there are 78 paper clips in box A.