The minimum number of each item will occur when the total number of items is minimized while still having an equal number of pencils and pens. We can start by finding the least common multiple (LCM) of 9 and 6, which is 18. This means that we can buy 18 items (9 pencils and 6 pens) to have an equal number of each. However, we can do better by multiplying the LCM by 2, 3, 4, etc. For example, if we buy 36 items (2 packages of 9 pencils and 3 packages of 6 pens), we will still have an equal number of each, but we will have more items in total. Therefore, the answer is D) 36.
