Bunuel
In the same amount of time a new production assembly robot can assemble 8 times as many transmissions as an old assembly line. If the new robot can assemble x transmissions per hour, how many transmissions can the new robot and the old assembly line produce together in five days of round-the-clock production?
(A) 45x/8
(B) 15x
(C) 135x/8
(D) 135x
(E) 1080x
R * T = WRobot's rate:
\(\frac{x}{hour} =\\
x\) (time is in hours)
Old assembly line's rate:
\(\frac{1}{8}x\)Time for both: 24 hrs/day * 5 days = 120 hrs
W = R * T
Work done by old:
\(\frac{1}{8}x*120 =\\
15x\)Work done by new:
\(x*120 =\\
120x\)Work completed by both: 15x + 120x = 135x
Answer D
Assign valuesThis method often makes things easier. Here, maybe not, unless you understand the process (but can't quite get the equations). If robot's rate = 8, answer choices make solving easy.
Let robot's rate = 8 units (per hour), so
Old assembly line rate = 1 unit (per hour)
Both work 24 hours * 5 days = 120 hours
W = R * T
Old line completes (1*120) = 120 units
Robot completes (8*120) = 960 units
Total units: 120 + 960 = 1,020 units
With x = 8, find answer choice that yields 1,080
Immediately eliminate (A) 45x/8 and (C) 135x/8. x=8 "cancels" denominator (results are 45 and 135)
Immediately eliminate (B) 15x, much too small, and (E) 1080x, much too great
Answer (D) 135x, by POE.
Check: 135*8 = 1,080. MATCH
Answer D