If 3 secretaries can type 12 pages in 5 minutes, how long will it take for 6 secretaries to type 32 pages at the same rate?

Question

If 3 secretaries can type 12 pages in 5 minutes, how long will it take for 6 secretaries to type 32 pages at the same rate?

Answer 1

So, generally each secretary would type at their own rate but I think for this problem you're to assume all secretaries type at the same rate.

 

If 3 secretaries type 12 pages in 5 min then each individual secretary is typing: 12/3 = 4 pages in that 5 min. (they are all typing simultaneously).

 

6 secretaries would get 6*4 pages = 24 pages typed in 5 min

(twice as many secretaries type twice as many pages)

 

Use the rate to calculate the time it would take to type 32 pages

 

t* (24 pages / 5 min) = 32 pages

 

24t/5 = 32

 

24t = 32*5

 

24t = 160

 

t = 160/24

 

t = 6 and 2/3 min

 

t = 6 min and 40 seconds