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Sub 505 (Easy)|   Work and Rate Problems|                        
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If one isn't that good with variables, one can just plug in some numbers, where the answer is easy.

Like 60 words per minute and how long does it take to write 120 words. Easy to see that the solution is 120/60=2 minutes. Now going back to variables: y/x.
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x words ------------------- 1 min (1)
y words ------------------- y/x min (2)

one approach which I generally use to verify such kind of problem is that (2) should be same as (1) if everything is cross-multiplied.
Here in (2), right hand side denominator x is multiplied by left hand side y

y*x ------------------------ y (3)

then y is cancelled out from both sides, so what remains is (1)

x --------------------------- 1
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Ratextime=work ===> X x t = y ==> t = y/x

Ans C
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\(\frac{x}{min}(t)=y words\)
\(t=\frac{y}{x}min\)
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x words take 1 Min
1 word will take \(1 * \frac{1}{x} = \frac{1}{x}\) minutes

For y words, time required
= \(y. \frac{1}{x} = \frac{y}{x}\)

Answer = B
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The Official Guide for GMAT® Review, 13th Edition - Quantitative Questions Project

How many minutes does it take John to type y words if he types at the rate of x words per minute?

(A) x/y
(B) y/x
(C) xy
(D) 60x/y
(E) y/(60x)

Practice Questions
Question: 34
Page: 156
Difficulty: 550

GMAT Club is introducing a new project: The Official Guide for GMAT® Review, 13th Edition - Quantitative Questions Project

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rate of x word per minute = 1/x.

for y word .... y*(1/x)= y/x
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Bunuel
How many minutes does it take John to type y words if he types at the rate of x words per minute?

(A) x/y
(B) y/x
(C) xy
(D) 60x/y
(E) y/(60x)

This problem is testing us on our knowledge of variables in a "work" question. Ultimately, we are solving for time. Since rate x time = work, we know that time = work/rate.

We are given that John types at a rate of x words per minute; thus, his rate is:

x/1 = x

We are asked for the number of minutes it will take John to type y words. We can solve, using the formula for time.

time = work/rate

time = y/x

The answer is B.
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1 word can be typed in 1/x minutes
y words in y/x minutes

hence B is correct
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Bunuel
How many minutes does it take John to type y words if he types at the rate of x words per minute?

(A) x/y
(B) y/x
(C) xy
(D) 60x/y
(E) y/(60x)

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Question: 34
Page: 156
Difficulty: 550

Time = output/rate
Time = y/x

Answer: B
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Work = Rate * Time

Thus he types x words in a minute and this is the rate of his work.

Work =y=time * x

=> Time = y/x

(option b)

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assume total words=100 = y
words/min = 10 = x
total min = 100/10 = y/x
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Bunuel
How many minutes does it take John to type y words if he types at the rate of x words per minute?

(A) x/y
(B) y/x
(C) xy
(D) 60x/y
(E) y/(60x)


If someone is not good with variables, person can opt for plugging in the number to find the solution

Lets John types 5 words per minute for 10 minutes, then total words typed by him = 50

Therefore we can substitute the value of 'x & y' in the answer option. where y=50 , x=5, and gives the solution 10 as per above calculation.

Only option B satisfies the condition. Hence 'B' is the answer.
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Bunuel
How many minutes does it take John to type y words if he types at the rate of x words per minute?

(A) x/y
(B) y/x
(C) xy
(D) 60x/y
(E) y/(60x)





Nick Slavkovich, GMAT/GRE tutor with 20+ years of experience

[email protected]
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