Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M : GMAT Problem Solving (PS)
Check GMAT Club Decision Tracker for the Latest School Decision Releases http://gmatclub.com/AppTrack

 It is currently 20 Jan 2017, 14:58

GMAT Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Events & Promotions

Events & Promotions in June
Open Detailed Calendar

Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M

Author Message
TAGS:

Hide Tags

Manager
Joined: 02 Dec 2012
Posts: 178
Followers: 5

Kudos [?]: 2326 [5] , given: 0

Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

06 Dec 2012, 08:58
5
KUDOS
36
This post was
BOOKMARKED
00:00

Difficulty:

35% (medium)

Question Stats:

70% (02:39) correct 30% (03:07) wrong based on 1532 sessions

HideShow timer Statistics

Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, Machines A and B produce 800 nails in x hours. Working alone at its constant rate, Machine A produces 800 nails in y hours. In terms of x and y, how many hours does it take Machine B, working alone at its constant rate, to produce 800 nails?

(A) x/(x+y)
(B) y/(x+y)
(C) xy/(x+y)
(D) xy/(x-y)
(E) xy/(y-x)
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 36583
Followers: 7087

Kudos [?]: 93280 [4] , given: 10555

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

06 Dec 2012, 09:06
4
KUDOS
Expert's post
6
This post was
BOOKMARKED
Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, Machines A and B produce 800 nails in x hours. Working alone at its constant rate, Machine A produces 800 nails in y hours. In terms of x and y, how many hours does it take Machine B, working alone at its constant rate, to produce 800 nails?

(A) x/(x+y)
(B) y/(x+y)
(C) xy/(x+y)
(D) xy/(x-y)
(E) xy/(y-x)

Pick some smart numbers for x and y.

Say x=1 hour and y=2 hours (notice that y must be greater than x, since the time for machine A to do the job, which is y hours, must be more than the time for machines A and B working together to do the same job, which is x hours).

In this case, the time needed for machine B to do the job must also be 2 hours: 1/2+1/2=1.

Now, plug x=1 and y=2 in the options to see which one yields 2. Only option E fits.

_________________
Senior Manager
Joined: 22 Dec 2011
Posts: 298
Followers: 3

Kudos [?]: 234 [18] , given: 32

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

06 Dec 2012, 11:28
18
KUDOS
5
This post was
BOOKMARKED
Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, Machines A and B produce 800 nails in x hours. Working alone at its constant rate, Machine A produces 800 nails in y hours. In terms of x and y, how many hours does it take Machine B, working alone at its constant rate, to produce 800 nails?

(A) x/(x+y)
(B) y/(x+y)
(C) xy/(x+y)
(D) xy/(x-y)
(E) xy/(y-x)

The above sol is awesome.... but i did it the longer way, algebraically...

rate of A be a and B be b

a + b = $$800/x$$ ..... 1
a = $$800/y$$ ..... 2

Use 2 in 1... we get

b = $$800 (y-x) / xy$$

Finally

Rate of B * time = Work done by B (we want time)

$$800 (y-x) / xy * t = 800$$

t = $$xy / (y-x)$$
Intern
Joined: 29 May 2013
Posts: 6
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 20 [10] , given: 6

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

18 Sep 2013, 05:49
10
KUDOS
8
This post was
BOOKMARKED
RateA + RateB = 800/x

RateA = 800/y
RateB = 800/z

So --> 800/y + 800/z = 800/x

1/y + 1/z = 1/x --> 1/z = 1/x - 1/y
z = xy/(y-x)
Manager
Joined: 01 Oct 2010
Posts: 83
Location: United States (NC)
GPA: 2.3
WE: Information Technology (Computer Software)
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 22 [1] , given: 115

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

04 Oct 2013, 07:31
1
KUDOS
Jp27 wrote:
Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, Machines A and B produce 800 nails in x hours. Working alone at its constant rate, Machine A produces 800 nails in y hours. In terms of x and y, how many hours does it take Machine B, working alone at its constant rate, to produce 800 nails?

(A) x/(x+y)
(B) y/(x+y)
(C) xy/(x+y)
(D) xy/(x-y)
(E) xy/(y-x)

The above sol is awesome.... but i did it the longer way, algebraically...

rate of A be a and B be b

a + b = $$800/x$$ ..... 1
a = $$800/y$$ ..... 2

Use 2 in 1... we get

b = $$800 (y-x) / xy$$

Finally

Rate of B * time = Work done by B (we want time)

$$800 (y-x) / xy * t = 800$$

t = $$xy / (y-x)$$

Yeah, R*T=W is a lengthy way to solve these problems but, I have seen that it is almost a sure shot way to solve most of the problems on this concept. Picking up the smart numbers may be a neat way to solve these questions but it highly depends on the mental state when you are taking the exam.
_________________

---------------------------------------------------------------
Consider to give me kudos if my post helped you.

Intern
Joined: 30 Apr 2010
Posts: 21
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 16 [0], given: 2

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

20 Oct 2013, 15:48
A and B : 1/x = 1/800
A alone: 1/y = 1/800
B alone: A and B - A: 1/x - 1/y = 0

solving it: (y - x)/xy => total time it takes is the reciprocal therefore B alone = xy/(y-x)

Senior Manager
Joined: 07 Apr 2012
Posts: 464
Followers: 2

Kudos [?]: 53 [0], given: 58

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

02 Nov 2013, 07:20
Jp27 wrote:
Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, Machines A and B produce 800 nails in x hours. Working alone at its constant rate, Machine A produces 800 nails in y hours. In terms of x and y, how many hours does it take Machine B, working alone at its constant rate, to produce 800 nails?

(A) x/(x+y)
(B) y/(x+y)
(C) xy/(x+y)
(D) xy/(x-y)
(E) xy/(y-x)

The above sol is awesome.... but i did it the longer way, algebraically...

rate of A be a and B be b

a + b = $$800/x$$ ..... 1
a = $$800/y$$ ..... 2

Use 2 in 1... we get

b = $$800 (y-x) / xy$$

Finally

Rate of B * time = Work done by B (we want time)

$$800 (y-x) / xy * t = 800$$

t = $$xy / (y-x)$$

I had a problem with this.
(1/A + 1/B) X = 800

(1/A)Y = 800

and when comparing both, I have too many unknowns....
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 36583
Followers: 7087

Kudos [?]: 93280 [1] , given: 10555

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

03 Nov 2013, 10:27
1
KUDOS
Expert's post
ronr34 wrote:
Jp27 wrote:
Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, Machines A and B produce 800 nails in x hours. Working alone at its constant rate, Machine A produces 800 nails in y hours. In terms of x and y, how many hours does it take Machine B, working alone at its constant rate, to produce 800 nails?

(A) x/(x+y)
(B) y/(x+y)
(C) xy/(x+y)
(D) xy/(x-y)
(E) xy/(y-x)

The above sol is awesome.... but i did it the longer way, algebraically...

rate of A be a and B be b

a + b = $$800/x$$ ..... 1
a = $$800/y$$ ..... 2

Use 2 in 1... we get

b = $$800 (y-x) / xy$$

Finally

Rate of B * time = Work done by B (we want time)

$$800 (y-x) / xy * t = 800$$

t = $$xy / (y-x)$$

I had a problem with this.
(1/A + 1/B) X = 800

(1/A)Y = 800

and when comparing both, I have too many unknowns....

That's because you stop on a halfway. Try to continue as suggested by Jp27 in the post you are quoting.
_________________
Director
Status: Verbal Forum Moderator
Joined: 17 Apr 2013
Posts: 635
Location: India
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V36
GMAT 2: 750 Q51 V41
GMAT 3: 790 Q51 V49
GPA: 3.3
Followers: 67

Kudos [?]: 421 [3] , given: 297

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

17 Nov 2013, 01:11
3
KUDOS
1
This post was
BOOKMARKED
Simplest solution Here-

RA + RB = 1/X

RA = 1/Y

RB = (1/X - 1/Y) = (Y-X)/XY

Time = 1/RB = XY/(X+Y)

I have treated 800 as equivalent to unity(= 1), as it's presence in final answer was trivial, as it will eventually cancel out, taking it unity has make the solution quite Un Complex..
_________________

Like my post Send me a Kudos It is a Good manner.
My Debrief: http://gmatclub.com/forum/how-to-score-750-and-750-i-moved-from-710-to-189016.html

Director
Joined: 03 Aug 2012
Posts: 916
Concentration: General Management, General Management
GMAT 1: 630 Q47 V29
GMAT 2: 680 Q50 V32
GPA: 3.7
WE: Information Technology (Investment Banking)
Followers: 23

Kudos [?]: 692 [1] , given: 322

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

29 Mar 2014, 02:50
1
KUDOS
Another approach:

Rate(A) = 800/y
Rate(A+B) = 800/x

Rate A + Rate B = Rate(A+B)

=> Rate(B) = Rate(A+B) - Rate(A)
= 800(y-x)/xy

Then the GODFATHER equation Rate * Time = Work

800(y-x)/xy * Time = 800

Time = xy/(y-x)

Rgds,
TGC!
_________________

Rgds,
TGC!
_____________________________________________________________________
I Assisted You => KUDOS Please
_____________________________________________________________________________

Senior Manager
Joined: 15 Aug 2013
Posts: 328
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 53 [0], given: 23

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

06 Apr 2014, 15:49
I managed to solve this via plugging in numbers but I went over 3 minutes! With these plug-in-numbers type of problems, I strive to pick simple numbers but there always seems to be one, usually the one i'm solving for, that ends up being a rather complicated number. My question is:

1) I plugged in Rate A and Rate A+B and then solved for time. Should I have plugged in numbers for time directly. Is there a general rule as to what number I should be plugging in?
2) In this case, to keep things super simple, I could have plugged the total Rate to be 8 and Ra and Rb to both be 4. Is it bad practice to choose the same numbers for the individual rates/times?
SVP
Status: The Best Or Nothing
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
Posts: 1858
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Technology
WE: Information Technology (Computer Software)
Followers: 47

Kudos [?]: 1935 [0], given: 193

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

07 Apr 2014, 00:04
russ9 wrote:
I managed to solve this via plugging in numbers but I went over 3 minutes! With these plug-in-numbers type of problems, I strive to pick simple numbers but there always seems to be one, usually the one i'm solving for, that ends up being a rather complicated number. My question is:

1) I plugged in Rate A and Rate A+B and then solved for time. Should I have plugged in numbers for time directly. Is there a general rule as to what number I should be plugging in?
2) In this case, to keep things super simple, I could have plugged the total Rate to be 8 and Ra and Rb to both be 4. Is it bad practice to choose the same numbers for the individual rates/times?

Just refer to method of Bunuel; he did using plug-ins.

I used same variables available & got correct answer (Had taken 800 = 1 as done by honchos)
_________________

Kindly press "+1 Kudos" to appreciate

Intern
Joined: 13 Feb 2014
Posts: 7
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 9

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

22 Apr 2014, 02:11
Q: I get the algebra but I got confused with this question because I thaught adding and deviding rates was a NoNo? Why is it diffrent in this case?
SVP
Status: The Best Or Nothing
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
Posts: 1858
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Technology
WE: Information Technology (Computer Software)
Followers: 47

Kudos [?]: 1935 [1] , given: 193

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

22 Apr 2014, 02:45
1
KUDOS
gciftci wrote:
Q: I get the algebra but I got confused with this question because I thaught adding and deviding rates was a NoNo? Why is it diffrent in this case?

You can add rates when required to find simultaneous work done etc.

In distance / time / speed related problems, we cannot add up the speeds

Hope it helps
_________________

Kindly press "+1 Kudos" to appreciate

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 36583
Followers: 7087

Kudos [?]: 93280 [4] , given: 10555

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

22 Apr 2014, 02:52
4
KUDOS
Expert's post
5
This post was
BOOKMARKED
gciftci wrote:
Q: I get the algebra but I got confused with this question because I thaught adding and deviding rates was a NoNo? Why is it diffrent in this case?

No, we CAN easily sum the rates. For example:

If we are told that A can complete a job in 2 hours and B can complete the same job in 3 hours, then A's rate is 1/2 job/hour and B's rate is 1/3 job/hour. The combined rate of A and B working simultaneously would be 1/2+1/3=5/6 job/hours, which means that the will complete 5/6 job in hour working together.

THEORY
There are several important things you should know to solve work problems:

1. Time, rate and job in work problems are in the same relationship as time, speed (rate) and distance in rate problems.

$$time*speed=distance$$ <--> $$time*rate=job \ done$$. For example when we are told that a man can do a certain job in 3 hours we can write: $$3*rate=1$$ --> $$rate=\frac{1}{3}$$ job/hour. Or when we are told that 2 printers need 5 hours to complete a certain job then $$5*(2*rate)=1$$ --> so rate of 1 printer is $$rate=\frac{1}{10}$$ job/hour. Another example: if we are told that 2 printers need 3 hours to print 12 pages then $$3*(2*rate)=12$$ --> so rate of 1 printer is $$rate=2$$ pages per hour;

So, time to complete one job = reciprocal of rate. For example if 6 hours (time) are needed to complete one job --> 1/6 of the job will be done in 1 hour (rate).

2. We can sum the rates.

If we are told that A can complete one job in 2 hours and B can complete the same job in 3 hours, then A's rate is $$rate_a=\frac{job}{time}=\frac{1}{2}$$ job/hour and B's rate is $$rate_b=\frac{job}{time}=\frac{1}{3}$$ job/hour. Combined rate of A and B working simultaneously would be $$rate_{a+b}=rate_a+rate_b=\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{3}=\frac{5}{6}$$ job/hour, which means that they will complete $$\frac{5}{6}$$ job in one hour working together.

3. 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.

For example if:
Time needed for A to complete the job is A hours;
Time needed for B to complete the job is B hours;
Time needed for C to complete the job is C hours;
...
Time needed for N to complete the job is N hours;

Then: $$\frac{1}{A}+\frac{1}{B}+\frac{1}{C}+...+\frac{1}{N}=\frac{1}{T}$$, where T is the time needed for A, B, C, ..., and N to complete the job working simultaneously.

For two and three entities (workers, pumps, ...):

General formula for calculating the time needed for two workers A and B working simultaneously to complete one job:

Given that $$t_1$$ and $$t_2$$ are the respective individual times needed for $$A$$ and $$B$$ workers (pumps, ...) to complete the job, then time needed for $$A$$ and $$B$$ working simultaneously to complete the job equals to $$T_{(A&B)}=\frac{t_1*t_2}{t_1+t_2}$$ hours, which is reciprocal of the sum of their respective rates ($$\frac{1}{t_1}+\frac{1}{t_2}=\frac{1}{T}$$).

General formula for calculating the time needed for three A, B and C workers working simultaneously to complete one job:

$$T_{(A&B&C)}=\frac{t_1*t_2*t_3}{t_1*t_2+t_1*t_3+t_2*t_3}$$ hours.

Some work problems with solutions:
time-n-work-problem-82718.html?hilit=reciprocal%20rate
facing-problem-with-this-question-91187.html?highlight=rate+reciprocal
what-am-i-doing-wrong-to-bunuel-91124.html?highlight=rate+reciprocal
gmat-prep-ps-93365.html?hilit=reciprocal%20rate
a-good-one-98479.html?hilit=rate
solution-required-100221.html?hilit=work%20rate%20done
work-problem-98599.html?hilit=work%20rate%20done

All DS work/rate problems to practice: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=46
All PS work/rate problems to practice: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=66

Hope this helps
_________________
Intern
Joined: 13 Feb 2014
Posts: 7
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 9

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

22 Apr 2014, 03:24
HI Brunel I get it sir, just got confused with this "If an object moves the same distance twice, but at different rates, then the average rate will NEVER be the average of the two rates given for the two legs of the journey.(MGMAT)"
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 36583
Followers: 7087

Kudos [?]: 93280 [1] , given: 10555

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

22 Apr 2014, 09:13
1
KUDOS
Expert's post
gciftci wrote:
HI Brunel I get it sir, just got confused with this "If an object moves the same distance twice, but at different rates, then the average rate will NEVER be the average of the two rates given for the two legs of the journey.(MGMAT)"

This is about completely different matter: it says that if an object covers 100 miles at 10 miles per hour and another 100 miles at 20 miles per hour, then the average speed for 200 miles won't be (10+20)/2=15 miles per hour.

(average speed) = (total distance)/(total time):

(total distance) = 100 + 100 = 200 miles.

(total time) = 100/10 + 100/20 = 15 hours.

(average speed) = (total distance)/(total time) = 200/15 miles per hour.

Notice here though that we can add or subtract rates (speeds) to get relative rate.

For example if two cars are moving toward each other from A to B (AB=100 miles) with 10mph and 15mph respectively, then their relative (combined) rate is 10+15=25mph, and they'll meet in (time)=(distance)/(rate)=100/25=4 hours;

Similarly if car x is 100 miles ahead of car y and they are moving in the same direction with 10mph and 15mph respectively then their relative rate is 15-10=5mph, and y will catch up x in 100/5=20 hours.

Hope it's clear.
_________________
Senior Manager
Joined: 15 Aug 2013
Posts: 328
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 53 [0], given: 23

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

09 May 2014, 13:24
Bunuel wrote:
Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, Machines A and B produce 800 nails in x hours. Working alone at its constant rate, Machine A produces 800 nails in y hours. In terms of x and y, how many hours does it take Machine B, working alone at its constant rate, to produce 800 nails?

(A) x/(x+y)
(B) y/(x+y)
(C) xy/(x+y)
(D) xy/(x-y)
(E) xy/(y-x)

Pick some smart numbers for x and y.

Say x=1 hour and y=2 hours (notice that y must be greater than x, since the time for machine A to do the job, which is y hours, must be more than the time for machines A and B working together to do the same job, which is x hours).

In this case, the time needed for machine B to do the job must also be 2 hours: 1/2+1/2=1.

Now, plug x=1 and y=2 in the options to see which one yields 2. Only option E fits.

Hi Bunuel,

I managed to solve this via algebra but it took 2+ minutes. When it comes to plugging in "smart numbers", I always get confused as to which variables I should use to plug in smart numbers vs. which numbers I should solve for.

In this example, I get completely throw off if I should be plugging in numbers for time(numbers that factor in 800) or if I should plug in numbers for Rate. I get paralysis by analysis when I think about whether the numbers I pick will go flawlessly and thereby Ra and Rb will add up to R a + b or will the factors yield decimals?

Do you have any tips on this?

Thanks!
Intern
Joined: 13 Jun 2014
Posts: 2
GMAT 1: 550 Q42 V23
GPA: 3
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 28

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

01 Jul 2014, 08:38
i am not able to comprehend ,

In this case, the time needed for machine B to do the job must also be 2 hours: 1/2+1/2=1.

how come ??
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 36583
Followers: 7087

Kudos [?]: 93280 [0], given: 10555

Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M [#permalink]

Show Tags

01 Jul 2014, 09:31
11yashu wrote:
i am not able to comprehend ,

In this case, the time needed for machine B to do the job must also be 2 hours: 1/2+1/2=1.

how come ??

A needs 2 hours to do a job and A and B together need 1 hour to do the same job.

In 1 hour A does 1/2 of the job thus another half is done by B in 1 hour. Half of the job in 1 hour = whole job in 2 hours.

Or: 1/2 + (rate of B) = 1 --> (rate of B) = 1/2 --> time of B = 2 hours.
_________________
Re: Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, M   [#permalink] 01 Jul 2014, 09:31

Go to page    1   2    Next  [ 28 posts ]

Similar topics Replies Last post
Similar
Topics:
3 Working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, machine A a 1 02 Jun 2016, 14:32
1 Working together at their respective constant rates, Machine A and Mac 5 07 Mar 2016, 08:12
33 Working simultaneously and independently at an identical constant rate 17 18 Oct 2015, 12:12
19 Machines A and B, working simultaneously at their respective constant 18 28 May 2015, 05:02
1 While working alone at their respective constant rates, 5 09 Feb 2013, 13:37
Display posts from previous: Sort by