Question is in description....Please send help!!!

Question

john has to figure out the number of sales people to be placed in each of five offices. He decides that the number of salespeople to be placed in each office will depend on the size of the office in relation to the other offices. 1 office is 4 times the size of 2 of the offices, and equal in size to 2 other offices. What is the minimum number of sales people required to service all areas?

 

Please help with working out so I can solve similar questions. Thanks in advanced!

Answer 1

Since the number of sales people in any office must be an integer, this problem boils down to determining to finding integer which guarantees each office has an integer number of people, and that the integer is the smallest.

 

Let A, B, C, D, & E represent the number of people in each office:

Let A = number of people in office #1.

B = (1/4)* B

C = (1/4)* B

D = A

E = A

 

Total = A+B+C+D+E

Substitute

Total = A+[(1/4)*A] +[(1/4)*A] +A + A

Total = 3.5A

The minimum # of people in office B is 1.  Since A = 4*B, A = 4.  (Note, the same applies for office C).

 

Since A = 4, Total = 3.5(4) = 14.