Hi swerve,

We're told that a printer can print 15 pages an HOUR. We're asked for the number of pages that three printers can print in 12 MINUTES at the same rate. This is a rate question that requires some 'unit conversion'; you can do the math in several different ways though.

To start, since 1 printer can print 15 pages in 1 HOUR, then 3 printers would print a total of 45 pages in 1 hour. While 12 minutes might seem like a 'strange' number, an hour = 60 minutes, so 12 minutes would be exactly 12/60 = 1/5 of an hour.

Since the three printers print 45 total pages in 1 hour, they would print 45/5 = 9 pages total in 12 minutes.

Final Answer: E

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

swerve wrote:A printer can print 15 pages an hour. How many pages can three printers print in 12 minutes at the same rate?

A. 3
B. 4
C. 6
D. 8
E. 9

The rate of 3 printers is 45 pages per hour, and, since 12 minutes = 1/5 of an hour, the 3 printers can print 45 x 1/5 = 9 pages in 12 minutes.

Answer: E