A machine makes 36 widgets in 20 minutes. At that rate, how many widgets will the machine make in an 8-hour day?

Question

I do not understand this problem. What equation do i use? Please Help 

Answer 1

 

Set up a proportion ... but make sure all units are the same

 

36 Widgets is to 20 minutes, as x widgets is to 8 hours

 

20 minutes is 1/3 of an hour.

 

Our proportion is as follows:

 

   36 Widgets            x widgets

   -------------     =    ---------------

    1/3 hour               8 hours

 

Then cross multiply and solve for x

 

(1/3)x = 8(36)

       x = 288(3

       x = 864

 

Answer 2

Camden,

 

First, find out how many widgets can be made in 1 hour.  To do that, set up this ratio by understanding that there are 60 minutes in 1 hour:

 

36widgets/20mins = xwidgets/60mins

 

Now, cross multiply to get:

 

20x = 36 * 60

 

20x = 2160

 

Now, divide both sides by 20:

 

20x/20 = 2160/20

 

x = 108 in 60mins or 1 hour

 

Finally, multiply 108 by 8 to find out how many widgets can be made in 8 hours.

 

8 * 108 = 864 widgets in 8 hours.

 

Hope this helps!