Question

7.6.7. Homer began peeling a pile of 44 potatoes at the rate of 3 potatoes per minute. Four minutes later, Christen joined him and peeled at the rate of 5 potatoes per minute. When they finished, how many potatoes had Christen peeled?

Answer 1

Answer:

When they finished, the number of potatoes had Christen peeled is 20 potatoes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given:

Homer began peeling a pile of 44 potatoes at the rate of 3 potatoes per minute.

Four minutes later, Christen joined him and peeled at the rate of 5 potatoes per minute We have to find the number of potatoes Christen has peeled.

Step 1 of 1

Homer peels 3 potatoes a minute, so in the four minutes he works alone, he peels $3 \cdot 4=12$ potatoes.

This leaves 44-12=32 potatoes for them to peel together.

Together, they peel 3+5=8 potatoes per minute, so they need

$\frac{32 \text { potatoes }}{8 \frac{\text { potatuos }}{\text { minute }}}=4$minutes

to peel the rest of the potatoes.

Christen peels 5 potatoes a minute for 4 minutes, so she peels $5 \cdot 4=20$ potatoes.