If two workers collaborate, they can finish a task in 16 hours. If one worker is three times faster than the other, how long would it take the slower worker to complete the same task alone?

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32 hours

36 hours

48 hours

64 hours

Correct

72 hours

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Official Explanation

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When two workers work together, they complete a task in 16 hours. One worker is three times faster than the other. To analyze this, let's define the slower worker's rate as 1 unit of work per hour. Consequently, the faster worker's rate would be 3 units of work per hour. Together, their combined rate is 4 units of work per hour.…

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Comments

edmondJun 16, 2024

Thanks

What this question tests

What it tests

Your ability to combine individual work rates, usually by working with the fraction of a job completed per unit of time.

Common trap

Adding the times instead of the rates, or forgetting to take the reciprocal when combining rates.