Ian has 14 boxes of paper and divides them evenly among 4 coworkers. How many boxes of paper does each coworker receive?

Introduction:
This is a basic division and average distribution problem. Ian wants to distribute boxes of paper equally among four coworkers, and you must find the share of each coworker.

Given Data / Assumptions:
Total number of boxes of paper = 14. Number of coworkers = 4. The boxes are divided evenly, so each coworker gets the same number of boxes.

Concept / Approach:
Equal division means we simply divide the total number of boxes by the number of coworkers: Number of boxes per coworker = Total boxes / Number of coworkers. This is essentially finding an average or fair share.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Use the division formula. Number of boxes per coworker = 14 / 4. Step 2: Perform the division. 14 / 4 = 3.5. This means each coworker receives 3.5 boxes of paper.

Verification / Alternative Check:
Multiply the per-person share by the number of coworkers: 3.5 * 4 = 14 boxes. This matches the original total number of boxes, so the distribution is correct and complete.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
2 or 2.5 boxes: 2 * 4 = 8 and 2.5 * 4 = 10. Both totals are less than 14 and leave boxes undistributed. 3 boxes: 3 * 4 = 12, leaving 2 boxes unaccounted for, so the division is not even. 4 boxes: 4 * 4 = 16 boxes, which exceeds the actual total of 14 boxes.

Common Pitfalls:
A typical mistake is to expect only whole numbers as answers and ignore fractional values. However, the question does not state that boxes cannot be divided, so 3.5 is acceptable. In many real-world contexts, boxes can be split into half-units or the question may be testing understanding of pure division.

Final Answer:
Each coworker receives 3.5 boxes of paper.