document.write( "Question 1200641: 3 men can unload 270 kg of goods in 4 hours. How many men are needed to unload 540 kg of goods in 3 hours? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #834828 by greenestamps(13200) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!

\n" ); document.write( "The response from the other tutor shows a typical formal way of solving a problem like this.

\n" ); document.write( "In my experience, many students find it difficult to set the problem up correctly using that method.

\n" ); document.write( "I find the following informal method much more to my liking. See if it \"works\" for you.

\n" ); document.write( "We start with 3 men, and we need to determine the number of men needed when the numbers change. Consider how the number of men changes when each of the other numbers changes.

\n" ); document.write( "The number of kg doubles, from 270kg to 540kg. More kg means more men; doubling the number of kg doubles the number of men required.

\n" ); document.write( "The number of hours decreases from 4 to 3; i.e., the number of hours gets multiplied by 3/4. Fewer hours means more men are required, so the number of men needs to get multiplied by 4/3.

\n" ); document.write( "The number of men started at 3; it got multiplied by 2 because of the increase in the number of kg; and it got multiplied by 4/3 because of the decrease in the number of hours:

\n" ); document.write( "(3)(2)(4/3) = 8

\n" ); document.write( "ANSWER: 8 hours

\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "

\n" );