ralanko wrote:
A worker can load 1 full truck in 6 hours. A second worker can load the same truck in 7 hours. If both workers load one truck simultaneously while maintaining their constant rates, approximately how long, in hours, will it take them to fill 1 truck?
A. 0.15
B. 0.31
C. 2.47
D. 3.23
E. 3.25
The site where I pulled this question states that the answer is E. 3.25. I'm convinced that 3hr 3/13 minutes is closer to E. 3.23. Who is correct? Their reasoning which I think must contain an error: At this point, we may not be able to decide between (D) or (E). However, the decimal is important. Because the denominator is 13, we know the decimal cannot equal .25. We can also see that 3/12 will yield .25, so 3/13 will be slightly lower. Choice (E).
You are right, answer should be D, not E.
Remember we can add the rates of individual entities to get the combined rate.
Generally for multiple entities: \(\frac{1}{t_1}+\frac{1}{t_2}+\frac{1}{t_3}+...+\frac{1}{t_n}=\frac{1}{T}\), where \(T\) is time needed for these entities to complete a given job working simultaneously and \(t_1\), \(t_2\), ..., \(t_n\) are individual times needed for them to complete the job alone.
So for two pumps, workers, etc. we'll have \(\frac{1}{t_1}+\frac{1}{t_2}=\frac{1}{T}\) --> \(T=\frac{t_1*t_2}{t_1+t_2}\) (general formula for 2 workers, pumps, ...).
Back to the original problem: for two outlets the formula becomes: \(\frac{1}{6}+\frac{1}{7}=\frac{1}{T}\) --> \(\frac{13}{42}=\frac{1}{T}\) --> \(T=\frac{42}{13}\approx{3.23}\) (or directly \(T=\frac{t_1*t_2}{t_1+t_2}=\frac{6*7}{6+7}=\frac{42}{13}\approx{3.23}\)).
Answer: D.
Check this for more on this subject:
two-consultants-can-type-up-a-report-126155.html#p1030079Hope it helps.
P.S. Please post PS questions in the PS subforum: gmat-problem-solving-ps-140/ and DS questions in the DS subforum: gmat-data-sufficiency-ds-141/
No posting of PS/DS questions is allowed in the main Math forum.