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# It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards

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It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards [#permalink]

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10 Jun 2010, 06:23
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It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards that machine B can manufacture in 'y' hours. If machine A operates alone for 'z' hours and is then joined by machine B until 100 decks are finished, for how long will the two machines operate simultaneously?

A. (100xy – z)/(x + y)
B. y(100x – z)/(x + y)
C. 100y(x – z)/(x + y)
D. (x + y)/(100xy – z)
E. (x + y – z)/100xy
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

Last edited by Bunuel on 02 Dec 2012, 04:16, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.

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10 Jun 2010, 06:51
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sjayasa wrote:
It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards that machine B can manufacture in 'y' hours. If machine A operates alone for 'z' hours and is then joined by machine B until 100 decks are finished, for how long will the two machines operate simultaneously?

A) (100xy – z)/(x + y)
B) y(100x – z)/(x + y)
C) 100y(x – z)/(x + y)
D) (x + y)/(100xy – z)
E) (x + y – z)/100xy

[Reveal] Spoiler:
OA B

Note that we are asked: "for how long will the two machines operate simultaneously?".

In first $$z$$ hours machine A alone will manufacture $$\frac{z}{x}$$ decks. So there are $$100-\frac{z}{x}=\frac{100x-z}{x}$$ decks left to manufacture. Combined rate of machines A and B would be $$\frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{y}=\frac{x+y}{xy}$$ decks/hour, (remember we can easily sum the rates).

As $$time=\frac{job}{rate}$$, then $$time=\frac{100x-z}{x}*\frac{xy}{x+y}=\frac{y(100x-z)}{x+y}$$.

Hope it's clear.
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10 Jun 2010, 06:53
Thanks for the clear explanation Bunuel!

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10 Jun 2010, 11:06
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sjayasa wrote:
It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards that machine B can manufacture in 'y' hours. If machine A operates alone for 'z' hours and is then joined by machine B until 100 decks are finished, for how long will the two machines operate simultaneously?

A) (100xy – z)/(x + y)
B) y(100x – z)/(x + y)
C) 100y(x – z)/(x + y)
D) (x + y)/(100xy – z)
E) (x + y – z)/100xy

[Reveal] Spoiler:
OA B

If you're having trouble w/ the above method you can try plugging numbers, but it does take longer. Use values for x, y, and z. Say x = 2, y = 4 and z =20.

We have then 90 (100 - 1/2*20) decks left to complete. So we should have (100 - 10)/(1/x+1/y) hours left. 90/(1/2+1/4) -> 90/.75 = 120hrs.

Now you can eyeball a few of the answer choices and realize that only A/B/C are going to produce anything close to 120hrs.

For B: (100*2*4 - 20*4)/(2+4) -> 720/6 = 120. This is our answer.

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10 Jun 2010, 17:17
Yikes!! I could never do this algebraically like Bunuel did it. Dude's a super human. But I did stay at a holiday in express last night (not really... I just like bad jokes). Here's what I got.

if rt=d then A's rate of work is 1/x and B's rate of work is 1/y. I made x=2 and y=4 so that rate A is 1/2 and rate B is 1/4.

So then we're told that A starts out on 100 decks by itself at 1/2 a deck an hour for z hours. So then I assigned a value for z. I said, "If z>200 then A finishes the 100 decks and B doesn't work at all." So I made z arbitrarily less than 200. For me z=50. So, 100 = (1/2)50 + (1/2+1/4)h, whereas h= the number of hours they worked together that I'll compare all answers to later.

100= 25 + 3h/4
75=3h/4
what do you know? h=100!!

So then I plug it the values I had for x, y and z into answer choices A B C D E to see which one is 100

A) = 550/6 which whatever it is isn't 100
B) = 600/6 which is 100
C) = some large negative number because a positive is multiplied by (x-z) or (2-50)
D) = some really small fraction
E) = some negative number

We have a winner in B!!
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Re: rate : machine A and machine B. [#permalink]

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08 Jul 2010, 13:31
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Speed of Machine A = $$\frac{1}{x}$$ decks/hour
Speed of Machine B = $$\frac{1}{y}$$ decks/hour

Combined Speed of both machines = $$\frac{1}{x}+ \frac{1}{y}$$ decks/hour

Now, Machine A initially worked for z hours, so the number of decks produced in z hours = $$\frac{1}{x}$$ decks/hour * z hours = $$\frac{z}{x}$$ decks

Decks remaining to be produced = $$100 - \frac{z}{x}$$

So, the time taken for both to work together and finish this would be = Number of decks left/Combined Speed = $$\frac{100 - \frac{z}{x}}{\frac{1}{x}+ \frac{1}{y}}$$ = $$\frac{(100x-z)y}{x+y}$$

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16 Jul 2010, 02:41
whats i did:

lets x= 10hrs
y= 20hrs

they both can do 20/3 Deck in 1 hrs

now lets say both A and B work together and made 90 decks, while 10decks made by A alone

A & B both time will be 600 hrs
A alone time will be 100 hrs which is the value of Z

now put all the values in the answer choices.

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02 Dec 2012, 01:35
$$\frac{1}{x}(z)+\frac{x+y}{yx}(t)=100$$
$$\frac{x+y}{xy}(t)=100-\frac{z}{x}$$
$$t=\frac{100x-z}{x}(\frac{xy}{x+y})$$
$$t=\frac{y(100x-z)}{x+y}$$
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Re: It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards [#permalink]

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25 Feb 2014, 05:20
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Re: It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards [#permalink]

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18 Mar 2014, 04:23
Folks,

I have seen the replies of experts. However, I have one query on this question.

Solution:

Work to be performed =100 decks

Rate * time = work
100/x * x = 100
Rate 1: 100/x

Similarly Rate 2 : 100/y

Then why posters have taken the rates as 1/x and 1/y.

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Re: It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards [#permalink]

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18 Mar 2014, 05:39
TGC wrote:
Folks,

I have seen the replies of experts. However, I have one query on this question.

Solution:

Work to be performed =100 decks

Rate * time = work
100/x * x = 100
Rate 1: 100/x

Similarly Rate 2 : 100/y

Then why posters have taken the rates as 1/x and 1/y.

Rgds,
TGC!

It takes machine A x hours to manufacture ONE deck --> the rate of A = (job)/(time) = 1/x decks per hour;
It takes machine B y hours to manufacture ONE deck --> the rate of B = (job)/(time) = 1/y decks per hour.

Hope it's clear.
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Re: It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards [#permalink]

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Re: It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards [#permalink]

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07 Feb 2016, 21:23
Bunuel wrote:
sjayasa wrote:
It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards that machine B can manufacture in 'y' hours. If machine A operates alone for 'z' hours and is then joined by machine B until 100 decks are finished, for how long will the two machines operate simultaneously?

A) (100xy – z)/(x + y)
B) y(100x – z)/(x + y)
C) 100y(x – z)/(x + y)
D) (x + y)/(100xy – z)
E) (x + y – z)/100xy

[Reveal] Spoiler:
OA B

Note that we are asked: "for how long will the two machines operate simultaneously?".

In first $$z$$ hours machine A alone will manufacture $$\frac{z}{x}$$ decks. So there are $$100-\frac{z}{x}=\frac{100x-z}{x}$$ decks left to manufacture. Combined rate of machines A and B would be $$\frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{y}=\frac{x+y}{xy}$$ decks/hour, (remember we can easily sum the rates).

As $$time=\frac{job}{rate}$$, then $$time=\frac{100x-z}{x}*\frac{xy}{x+y}=\frac{y(100x-z)}{x+y}$$.

Hope it's clear.

Hi Bunuel,
I applied a different approach but failed to get the correct option. Pls. guide.

Working together at x & y rate machines A & B will manufacture 2 decks in x + y hours, so to manufacture 1 deck it will take (x +y)/2 hours. Now to manufacture 100-z/x decks it must take (100-z/x)*2/(x+y).

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Re: It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards [#permalink]

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16 Feb 2016, 14:14
let t=time machines operate simultaneously
z/x+t(1/x+1/y)=100
t=(100-z/x)/[(x+y)/xy]
t=y(100x-z)/(x+y)

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Re: It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards [#permalink]

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31 Mar 2016, 18:26
Attached is a visual that should help. Bundle's solution is the most elegant, but if you can't pull that off (which many test-takers can't), then this illustrates an admittedly more work-intensive second option.
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Screen Shot 2016-03-31 at 6.25.39 PM.png [ 216.18 KiB | Viewed 5580 times ]

Screen Shot 2016-03-31 at 6.26.17 PM.png [ 117.77 KiB | Viewed 5582 times ]

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It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards [#permalink]

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02 Apr 2016, 11:32
...and here is a visual version of Bunuel 's explanation.
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Screen Shot 2016-04-02 at 11.31.19 AM.png [ 125.72 KiB | Viewed 5507 times ]

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It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards [#permalink]

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18 Apr 2016, 10:54
It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards that machine B can manufacture in 'y' hours. If machine A operates alone for 'z' hours and is then joined by machine B until 100 decks are finished, for how long will the two machines operate simultaneously?

A. (100xy – z)/(x + y)
B. y(100x – z)/(x + y)
C. 100y(x – z)/(x + y)
D. (x + y)/(100xy – z)
E. (x + y – z)/100xy

A takes x hours to manufacture a deck of cards, so fraction of work x does is ($$\frac{1}{x}$$) corollary B's fraction of work is ($$\frac{1}{y}$$)

1. A operates for 'z' hours = ($$\frac{z}{x}$$) or ($$\frac{1}{x}$$)*z
2. On top of z/p, machine B joins with A and works for 'X' hours i.e; ($$\frac{1}{x}$$+$$\frac{1}{y}$$)*X => X($$\frac{x+y}{xy}$$) ; unknown is colored red.

adding 1 and 2 => ($$\frac{z}{x}$$)+ $$\frac{(x+y)}{(xy)}$$X = 100

Solve for X => ($$\frac{x+y}{xy})$$X = 100 - ($$\frac{z}{x}$$)
=>($$\frac{x+y}{xy})$$X = $$\frac{(100x - z)}{x}$$ ; cancel out x term in the denominator.
=> X = y$$\frac{(100x - z)}{(x+y)}$$

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Re: It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards [#permalink]

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30 May 2016, 13:39
Bunuel why is the rate (y+x / yx). Isnt that time? Work rule is 1/r + 1/s = 1/h so doing 1/x + 1/y actually delivers time not rate?

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Re: It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards [#permalink]

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30 May 2016, 13:45
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Bunuel why is the rate (y+x / yx). Isnt that time? Work rule is 1/r + 1/s = 1/h so doing 1/x + 1/y actually delivers time not rate?

Time is a reciprocal of rate:
1/r + 1/s = 1/h

(s + r)/(rs) = 1/h

h = rs/(r+s).

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.

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
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Re: It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards [#permalink]

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Re: It takes machine A 'x' hours to manufacture a deck of cards   [#permalink] 20 Jun 2017, 00:14

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