Question 1201892:  Miguel the trainer has two solo workout plans that he offers his clients: Plan A and Plan B. Each client does either one or the other (not both). On Monday there were 4 clients who did Plan A and 8 who did Plan B. On Tuesday there were 2 clients who did Plan A and 3 who did Plan B. Miguel trained his Monday clients for a total of 9 hours and his Tuesday clients for a total of 4 hours. How long does each of the workout plans last? 
 Found 3 solutions by  ikleyn, Theo, greenestamps: Answer by ikleyn(52903)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! . 
Miguel the trainer has two solo workout plans that he offers his clients: Plan A and Plan B.  
Each client does either one or the other (not both).  
On Monday there were 4 clients who did Plan A and 8 who did Plan B.  
On Tuesday there were 2 clients who did Plan A and 3 who did Plan B.  
Miguel trained his Monday clients for a total of 9 hours and his Tuesday clients for a total of 4 hours.  
How long does each of the workout plans last? 
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Let x = hours for plan A and y = hours for plane B.
Write equations as you read the problem
    4x + 8y = 9     (1)   (total hours on Monday)
    2x + 3y = 4     (2)   (total hours on Thursday)  
To solve this system, multiply equation (2) by 2 (both sides).
Keep equation (1) as is.  You will get
    4x + 8y = 9     (3)   
    4x + 6y = 8     (4)  
Now subtract equation (4) from equation (3), The terms with "4x" will cancel each other,
and you will get
         8y - 6y = 9 - 8
            2y   =   1
             y   = 1/2 = 0.5.
Then from equation (2)
    2x + 3*0.5 = 4,
    2x + 1.5   = 4
    2x         = 4 - 1.5 = 2.5
     x                   = 2.5/2 = 1.25.
ANSWER.  Plan A is 1.25 hours per client (same as 1 hour and 15 minutes).
         Plan B is 0.5  hours per client (same as 30 minutes).
 
Solved.
 
 
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On the way, you learned on how the Elimination method works,  
when you solve systems of two equations in two unknowns.
 
 
 
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Notice that the way on how tutor @Theo introduces his unknown variables may perplex/confuse you.
 
 
Surely, x and y in his post are not the numbers of clients;   
they are the hours per a client for plan A and plane B, respectively.
 
 
Precisely as they are introduced in my solution.
 
 
 
 
 Answer by Theo(13342)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! x = number of clients for plan A. 
y = number of clients for plan B. 
you have two equtions that need to be solved simultaneouly. 
they are: 
4x + 8y = 9 on monday. 
2x + 3y = 4 on tuesday. 
multiply both sides of the first equation by 2 and leave the first equatio as is to get: 
4x + 8y = 9 
4x + 6y = 8 
subract the second equation from the first to get: 
2y = 1 
solve for y to get: 
y = 1/2 = .5 
replace y with .5 in the first equation to get: 
4x + 8y = 9 becoms 4x + 4 = 9 which becomes 4x = 5 which results in x = 1.25. 
you have: 
x = 1.25 
y = .5 
replace a and y with those values in the original equations to get: 
4x + 8y = 9 becomes 4 * 1.25 + 8 * .5 = 9 which becomes 5 + 4 = 9 which is true. 
2x + 3y = 4 becomes 2.5 + 1.5 = 4 which is also true. 
the values of x and y are confirmed to be good. 
your solution is: 
plan A workout session lasts 1.25 hours. 
plan B workout session lasts .5 hours. 
 
 Answer by greenestamps(13215)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! 
  
Knowing how to set up and solve the problem using formal algebra is certainly a good skill to have.
  
But you can get good mental exercise, and excellent problem-solving experience, by solving the problem informally, using logical reasoning and simple arithmetic.
  
Suppose Miguel's business on Tuesday doubled, so that he had 4 clients on plan A and 6 on plan B, for a total of 8 hours.
  
Then compare that to Monday's work, where there were 4 clients on plan A and 8 on plan B, for a total of 9 hours.
  
Then the difference between the two days would be 2 more clients on plan B, with the same numbers on plan A for both days, with the time difference being 1 hour.
  
So the time for the two additional clients on plan B is 1 hour, which means each workout on plan B last half an hour.
  
Then use that with simple arithmetic with the workouts from either day to find that each workout on plan A lasts 1.25 hours.
  
 
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