GMAT Word Problems: If four of these machines, operating…
Question
Five machines at a certain factory operate at the same constant rate. If four of these machines, operating simultaneously, take 30 hours to fill a certain production order, how many fewer hours does it take all five machines, operating simultaneously, to fill the same production order?
- 3
- 5
- 6
- 16
- 24
Topics: word problems, rates
Solution
Step 1
We name R as the rate of one machine in orders per hour and Q as the total size of the production order.
Q = 4 × R × 30
Step 2
We calculate the time T required for five machines working together to complete Q.
5 × R × T = Q T = Q/(5×R) T = (4×R×30)/(5×R) T = R × 4 × 305 × R T = 120/5 T = 24
Step 3
We compute how many fewer hours five machines save compared to four machines.
30 - 24 = 6
Answer
6 (C)
