Answer:
She started with 26 boxes.
Step-by-step explanation:
She started with x boxes. Then she bought 8 more boxes. Now she had x + 8 boxes. Then half the boxes were destroyed, so she has the other half of the boxes. Half of the boxes is (x + 8)/2. She has now 17 boxes, so (x + 8)/2 = 17.
(x + 8)/2 = 17
Multiply both sides by 2.
x + 8 = 34
Subtract 8 from both sides.
x = 26
She started with 26 boxes.
