Question 1130086
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The proportion method shown by tutor @ilkeyn and the formula method shown by tutor @josgarithmetic are both good methods for solving problems like this.<br>
My personal preference (what is easiest for me) is to consider how the number of baskets changes for each change in the parameters.<br>
(NOTE: It will be good to understand and be able to use all three methods; for a particular problem, any one of the three might be the easiest to use.)<br>
In this problem....<br>
(1) The number of men increases from 5 to 15, an increase by a factor of 3; this will cause the number of baskets produced to increase by a factor of 3.
(2) The amount of time decreases from 1 hour (60 minutes) to 40 minutes, a decrease by a factor of 2/3; this will cause the number of baskets produced to decrease by a factor of 2/3.<br>
So the number of baskets produced by 5 men in 1 hour (27), will get increased by a factor of 3 and decreased by a factor of 2/3:<br>
(27)(3)(2/3) = 54.<br>
ANSWER: 15 men in 40 minutes can produce 54 baskets.