SOLUTION: Normally a factory produces 400 radios in x days. IF the factory were to produce 20 more radios each day, then it would take 10 days less to produce 400 radios. find x

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Question 1191077: Normally a factory produces 400 radios in x days. IF the factory were to produce 20 more radios each day, then it would take 10 days less to produce 400 radios. find x
Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, greenestamps:
Answer by ikleyn(52781)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Normally a factory produces 400 radios in x days.
IF the factory were to produce 20 more radios each day, then it would take 10 days less to produce 400 radios.
find x
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Producing x items per day, it will take    days to make 400 items.


Producing (x+20) items each day, it will take    days to make 400 items.


The difference   -   is 10 days, according to the problem.


So we have this "time" equation

     -  = 10   days.      (1)


Dividing both sides by 10 gives

     -  = 1.


At this point, you may guess the solution MENTALLY:  it is  x = 20.


Alternatively, you may reduce it to the quadratic equation and solve it formally.


For it, multiply both sides by x*(x+20).  You will get


    40*(x+20) + 40*x = x*(x+20)

    40x + 800 - 40x = x^2 + 20x

    x^2 + 20x - 800 = 0


Factor left side

    (x-20)*(x+40) = 0


Of the two roots, 20 and -40, we disregard the negative root  x= -40  and accept the positive root x= 20.    ANSWER


CHECK.  We will check the starting equation (1)


         -  =  -  = 20 - 10 = 10  days.    ! Correct !

Solved.



Answer by greenestamps(13200)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!


The other tutor has provided a good detailed response showing a formal algebraic solution.

If a formal algebraic solution is not required, you can find it quickly with a bit of mental arithmetic.

The conditions of the problem require you to find two ways to expression 400 as the product of two numbers...

ab=400
cd=400

... in which the difference between a and c (the numbers of radios produced per day) is 20 and the difference between b and d (the number of days) is 10.

Quick trial and error should easily find

20*20=400
40*10=400

Those show that 400 radios can be produced 20 per day for 20 days, or 40 per day for 10 days. Those numbers satisfy the conditions of the problem: producing 20 more per day requires 10 fewer days.

ANSWER: 20


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