Production Rate Comparison: Machine A (30/3min) vs Machine B (16/2min)

Rate Problems with Different Time Units

In the clothing factory there are two t-shirt machines

Machine A produces 30 t-shirts in 3 minutes,
Machine B produces 16 t-shirts in 2 minutes.

Which machine will produce more t-shirts in 10 minutes?

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Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

In the clothing factory there are two t-shirt machines

Machine A produces 30 t-shirts in 3 minutes,
Machine B produces 16 t-shirts in 2 minutes.

Which machine will produce more t-shirts in 10 minutes?

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Calculate the production rate per minute for each machine.
  • Step 2: Determine the total production over 10 minutes for each machine.
  • Step 3: Compare the results to determine which machine produces more t-shirts.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: For Machine A, the production rate is calculated as follows:
Production Rate of Machine A = 30 t-shirts3 minutes=10 t-shirts per minute \frac{30 \text{ t-shirts}}{3 \text{ minutes}} = 10 \text{ t-shirts per minute}
For Machine B, the production rate is:
Production Rate of Machine B = 16 t-shirts2 minutes=8 t-shirts per minute \frac{16 \text{ t-shirts}}{2 \text{ minutes}} = 8 \text{ t-shirts per minute}
Step 2: Calculate the total production over 10 minutes for both machines:
Machine A over 10 minutes: 10 t-shirts/minute×10 minutes=100 t-shirts 10 \text{ t-shirts/minute} \times 10 \text{ minutes} = 100 \text{ t-shirts}
Machine B over 10 minutes: 8 t-shirts/minute×10 minutes=80 t-shirts 8 \text{ t-shirts/minute} \times 10 \text{ minutes} = 80 \text{ t-shirts}
Step 3: Compare the production totals:
Machine A produces 100 t-shirts, while Machine B produces 80 t-shirts in the same time period.
Therefore, Machine A will produce more t-shirts in 10 minutes.

3

Final Answer

Machine B

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Rate Formula: Divide total output by time to find rate per minute
  • Calculation: Machine A: 303=10 \frac{30}{3} = 10 t-shirts/minute
  • Verification: Multiply rate by 10 minutes and compare totals ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Comparing production numbers directly without calculating rates
    Don't just compare 30 vs 16 and assume Machine A is faster! This ignores that they work for different amounts of time. Always calculate the rate per minute first, then multiply by the target time period.

Practice Quiz

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What is the ratio between the orange and gray parts in the drawing?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I just compare 30 t-shirts to 16 t-shirts directly?

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Because they're produced in different time periods! Machine A takes 3 minutes while Machine B takes only 2 minutes. You need to find how many each makes per minute to compare fairly.

How do I remember the rate formula?

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Think of it like speed: Rate = Distance ÷ Time. Here it's Rate = Output ÷ Time. Just divide what's produced by how long it takes!

What if the machines work for different amounts of time?

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That's exactly why we calculate rates! Once you know each machine's rate per minute, you can find output for any time period by multiplying: Rate × Time = Total Output.

Do I always need to find rate per minute?

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Not always! You can use rate per hour, per second, etc. Just make sure both machines use the same time unit when comparing, and match it to your target time period.

How can I check if my rate calculation is correct?

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Multiply your rate by the original time period. For Machine A: 10×3=30 10 \times 3 = 30 ✓. If you get back the original output, your rate is right!

What if I get decimal rates?

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That's perfectly normal! For example, if a machine makes 7 items in 3 minutes, the rate is 73=2.33... \frac{7}{3} = 2.33... items per minute. Just be careful with rounding in your final answer.

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