Please Help me solve this

a is the correct

or

step-by-step explanation:

we need to solve for 'x' the following equation:  

we have that:

⇒

⇒ ⇒

factorizing, we get that:

  ⇒

then, the solutions are: or

nothing extraneous has been found!

a.) list the factors of 40.

1/2/4/5/8/10/20/40

b.) list the factors of 40 that represent the number of cans that could be on each shelf.

5

c.) how many different arrangements of cans are possible?

just one because if you put more on one shelf you will go way over 40 and the cabinet will probably break.

d.) what are the possible arrangements of the cans?

put 5 cans on each self to reach 40 cans in total.

e.) which arrangement uses all the shelves?

5 because you can put 5 cans on each shelf, and since there are 8 shelfs you are equally going to get 40 cans.