Audrey 4 hours to complete a certain job. Ferris can do the same job in 3hours. Audrey and Ferris decided to collaborate on the job, working at their respective rates. While Audrey worked continuously, Ferris took 3 breaks of equal length. If the two completed the job together in 2 hours, how many minutes long was each of Ferris' breaks ?
A. 5
B. 10
C. 15
D. 20
E. 25
The OA is B.
Please, can any expert explain this PS question for me? I tried to solve it but I can't get the correct answer. I need your help. Thanks.
Audrey 4 hours to complete a certain job. Ferris can do...
This topic has expert replies
- GMATGuruNY
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 15539
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
- Location: New York, NY
- Thanked: 13060 times
- Followed by:1906 members
- GMAT Score:790
Let the job = the LCM of the 3 times = 12 units.swerve wrote:Audrey 4 hours to complete a certain job. Ferris can do the same job in 3hours. Audrey and Ferris decided to collaborate on the job, working at their respective rates. While Audrey worked continuously, Ferris took 3 breaks of equal length. If the two completed the job together in 2 hours, how many minutes long was each of Ferris' breaks ?
A. 5
B. 10
C. 15
D. 20
E. 25
Since Audrey's time alone = 4 hours, Audrey's rate = w/t = 12/4 = 3 units per hour.
Since Ferris's time alone = 3 hours, Ferris's rate = w/t = 12/3 = 4 units per hour.
Since Audrey works for the entire 2 hours, the work produced by Audrey = rt = 3*2 = 6 units.
Remaining work = (total job) - (Audrey's work) = 12 - 6 = 6 units.
Since Ferris's rate = 4 units per hour, the time for Ferris to produce the remaining 6 units = w/r = 6/4 = 1.5 hours.
Since Ferris works for 1.5 of the total 2 hours -- implying that his 3 breaks sum to 30 minutes -- the time for each break = 10 minutes.
The correct answer is B.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
GMAT/MBA Expert
- Jeff@TargetTestPrep
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 1462
- Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2015 9:34 am
- Location: New York, NY
- Thanked: 39 times
- Followed by:22 members
The rate of Audrey is 1/4 and the rate of Ferris is 1/3.swerve wrote:Audrey 4 hours to complete a certain job. Ferris can do the same job in 3hours. Audrey and Ferris decided to collaborate on the job, working at their respective rates. While Audrey worked continuously, Ferris took 3 breaks of equal length. If the two completed the job together in 2 hours, how many minutes long was each of Ferris' breaks ?
A. 5
B. 10
C. 15
D. 20
E. 25
If we let each break of Ferris equal x, his time worked is 2 - 3x ad Audrey's time is 2. We can create the following equation and solve for x:
(1/4)(2) + (1/3)(2 - 3x) = 1
Multiplying by 12 we have:
6 + 4(2 - 3x) = 12
8 - 12x = 6
2 = 12x
1/6 = x
So each break was 1/6 x 60 = 10 minutes long.
Answer: B
Jeffrey Miller
Head of GMAT Instruction
[email protected]
See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews