Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 18:47 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 18:47
Close
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
Your Progress

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
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Patronus
Joined: 21 Aug 2014
Last visit: 10 Nov 2016
Posts: 101
Own Kudos:
1,005
 [37]
Given Kudos: 49
GMAT 1: 610 Q49 V25
GMAT 2: 730 Q50 V40
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
35
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,818
Own Kudos:
811,087
 [5]
Given Kudos: 105,873
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,818
Kudos: 811,087
 [5]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,818
Own Kudos:
811,087
 [4]
Given Kudos: 105,873
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,818
Kudos: 811,087
 [4]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Patronus
Joined: 21 Aug 2014
Last visit: 10 Nov 2016
Posts: 101
Own Kudos:
1,005
 [1]
Given Kudos: 49
GMAT 1: 610 Q49 V25
GMAT 2: 730 Q50 V40
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel

To minimize the amount of time, we should make both machines work all the time while producing 1,000 nuts and 1,000 bolts.

Two machines to produce 1,000 bolts will need (1,000*1)/2 = 500 seconds.
Two machines to produce 1,000 nuts will need (1,000*2)/2 = 1,000 seconds.

Total = 500 + 1,000 = 1,500.

Answer: B.

Hi Bunuel - thankyou for the answer.

I used the Rate formula (R=\(\frac{1}{T}\))
Rate of 1st machine = Rate of making 1 bolt + Rate of making 1 nut = 1 + \(\frac{1}{2}\)
Rate of 1st machine = Rate of 2nd machine
After this I got lost.

Please can you help how to approach using algebra?
User avatar
pacifist85
Joined: 07 Apr 2014
Last visit: 20 Sep 2015
Posts: 322
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 169
Status:Math is psycho-logical
Location: Netherlands
GMAT Date: 02-11-2015
WE:Psychology and Counseling (Other)
Posts: 322
Kudos: 459
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Or we could find the time it would take for one machine to produce 1000 nuts and 1000 bolts and divide it by 2, as there would be 2 similar machines.

So, one machine would take:
1000 seconds for 1000 bolts and
2000 seconds for 1000 nuts. Together,
3000 seconds for 1000 nuts and 1000 bolts.

If another machine, working at the same rate, was to be added, it would take half that time.
So, 3000/2 = 1500 ANS B
User avatar
ggurface
Joined: 09 Aug 2015
Last visit: 12 Jul 2020
Posts: 72
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 7
GMAT 1: 770 Q51 V44
GPA: 2.3
GMAT 1: 770 Q51 V44
Posts: 72
Kudos: 80
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Since you are asked to find the time for two identical machines to make 1000 x and 1000 y, you can simplify the question to to:

the time it takes one machine to make 500 x and 500 y

and that is just 500*1 + 500*2 = 1500
avatar
OptimusPrepJanielle
Joined: 06 Nov 2014
Last visit: 08 Sep 2017
Posts: 1,776
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 23
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,776
Kudos: 1,507
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The easiest way to solve this question would be by solving for the time.
Since the rate of producing the bolts is same for both the machines,

We can safely assume that the time required to produce nuts and bolts will be halved.

To produce 1000 bolts, both machines will need 500 seconds
TO produce 1000 nuts, both machines will need 1000 seconds

Hence, the total time = 1500 seconds (Option B)
User avatar
koenh
Joined: 15 Nov 2015
Last visit: 05 Jan 2021
Posts: 23
Own Kudos:
20
 [1]
Given Kudos: 14
Location: Netherlands
GMAT 1: 730 Q47 V44
GPA: 3.99
GMAT 1: 730 Q47 V44
Posts: 23
Kudos: 20
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Now that they're working simultaneously, the output will double for the same amount of time.

So per machine: 1 bolt per second + 1 nut per 2 seconds
This becomes: 2 bolts per second + 2 nuts per 2 seconds (=1 nut per second)

Total time: 1000 bolts/2 bolts per second + 1000 nuts / 1 nut per second = 500 + 1,000 = 1,500.
avatar
Sushilait84
Joined: 29 Jul 2016
Last visit: 04 Mar 2018
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 27
Posts: 5
Kudos: 2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Patronus
Two identical machines have the ability to produce both nuts and bolts. However, it takes 1 second to produce a bolt but 2 seconds to produce a nut. What is the fastest the two machines, working together, can produce 1,000 nuts and 1,000 bolts?

(A) 1,250 seconds
(B) 1,500 seconds
(C) 1,750 seconds
(D) 2,000 seconds
(E) 3,000 seconds

Please provide a detailed explanation on how to approach such twisted work/rate questions.

u must mention that both machine together produces 1 bolt in a seconf and 1 nut in 2 seconds. my understanding is each machine produces 1 bolt in 1 sec and 1 nut in 2 secs and the answer is 1250 sec
User avatar
JeffTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 04 Mar 2011
Last visit: 05 Jan 2024
Posts: 2,974
Own Kudos:
8,711
 [2]
Given Kudos: 1,646
Status:Head GMAT Instructor
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 2,974
Kudos: 8,711
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Patronus
Two identical machines have the ability to produce both nuts and bolts. However, it takes 1 second to produce a bolt but 2 seconds to produce a nut. What is the fastest the two machines, working together, can produce 1,000 nuts and 1,000 bolts?

(A) 1,250 seconds
(B) 1,500 seconds
(C) 1,750 seconds
(D) 2,000 seconds
(E) 3,000 seconds

Since each bolt takes 1 second to produce, the time to produce 1,000 bolts = 1,000 x 1 = 1,000 seconds.

Since each nut takes 2 seconds to produce, the time to produce 1,000 nuts = 1,000 x 2 = 2,000 seconds.

If there is only one machine, it will take 1,000 + 2,000 = 3,000 seconds to produce 1,000 bolts and 1,000 nuts. However, since there are two machines and they are working simultaneously, it will take only half as much time to produce the bolts and nuts. Thus, it takes 1,500 seconds for the two machines to produce 1,000 bolts and 1,000 nuts.

Answer: B
User avatar
ehsan090
Joined: 08 Oct 2016
Last visit: 16 Feb 2018
Posts: 176
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 76
Location: United States
Concentration: General Management, Finance
GPA: 2.9
WE:Engineering (Telecommunications)
Posts: 176
Kudos: 55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Option:B
Time consumed:0:47
Bolt:1 second==1000*1=1000 second
Nuts=2 seconds==1000*2=2000 seconds
total time consumed=3000 seconds
**but here we have two machines which work on same speed so
3000/2=1500 seconds
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,975
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,975
Kudos: 1,117
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109818 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts