value

This topic has expert replies
Source: — Problem Solving |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 273
Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2010 5:37 am
Location: Durham, NC
Thanked: 154 times
Followed by:74 members
GMAT Score:770

by Whitney Garner » Wed May 11, 2011 11:09 am
Hi alltimeacheiver!

It might not seem like it, but problem is in some ways a units conversion or proportions problem. To find the number of total workers needed for 1 hour we need to evaluate manager and assembly line workers separately.

First, the managers are the "easy" part. We need 12 of them each hour, regardless of the output.

But the line workers are conditional on the number of units produced. If it takes 1 worker for every 25 units, we need to figure out how many workers are needed for 50N units. We could simply assign a value for N and then plug it into the answer choices, BUT let's try to use theory here. We can set up equal proportions:

Image

Therefore we will need 2N line workers for the job. The total number of employees needed is therefore:

B. 12 + 2N

:)
Whit
Whitney Garner
GMAT/GRE/EA Instructor & Anxiety/Accommodations Coach
www.whitneygarner.com

Contributor to Beat The GMAT!

Math is a lot like love - a simple idea that can easily get complicated :heart-eyes: