OK, here is another type of puzzle.
It takes Joe 4 hours complete a job. It takes John 6 hours to perform the same task while Bob can do it is 5 hours and Carl takes only 3 hours. How long will it take to complete the job is they all work together.
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I just noticed some typos. They should not affect the understanding of the puzzle.
ReplyDeleteHere's one for you, Dad:
ReplyDeleteA purveyor has offered to sell you fudge cakes for $6 each. You try to determine whether you can make the cakes more cheaply. Assuming you will need to pay an employee $10.75 per hour and that this employee can make 24 cakes per hour, should you make or buy the cakes?
The recipe for one cake is:
12 oz. shortening
1 lb, 12 oz. cake flour
2 lb sugar
1/4 oz. salt
1/2 oz. vanilla
1 oz. baking soda
6 eggs
1 1/2 pints buttermilk
5 oz. cocoa
The AP prices for these ingredients are:
Shortening: $0.32 per lb
Cake flour: $11.09 per 50 lbs
Sugar: $18.22 per 50 lbs
Salt: $0.11 per lb
Vanilla: $6.85 per pint
Baking soda: $0.24 per lb
Eggs: $1.29 per dozen
Buttermilk: $2.45 per gallon
Cocoa: $2.12 per lb
(This was taken from one of my culinary school quizzes, by the way. In case you hadn't guessed)
Better make them and not buy. You will save $2.56 per cake. This is a good problem involving units conversion.
ReplyDeleteJenny,
ReplyDeleteCare to take a crack at the posted puzzle.
Should remind you of middle school math with Mrs Gewer!
I think it is all about fractions
ReplyDelete1/4 +1/6 +1/5+ 1/3 = 1/t where t is the length of the joint effort.
Find a common denominator
and ultimately
I got
60/57 = t so it would be just over an hour????
also it is always best to make the cake yourself...
ReplyDeleteAlright Kathleen I now realize I'm dealing with a math major. Future puzzles will have to be harder! Or maybe I'll just assemble a real puzzle one piece per day just to kill time ;)
ReplyDelete