Question

ryan can build 4 desks in one day and larry can build 4 desks in 2 days. if larry starts work one day before ryan, how long will they work together to build 32 desks?

Answer 1

You can make an equation with this information using a variable for the number of days and solve for that variable. Here we can use d to represent days.

Ryan can build 4 desks in a day, so you could express his production as 4d.

Larry can build 4 desks in 2 days, so you could say he makes 2 desks in 1 day, expressed as 2d.

If Larry starts work one day before Ryan, he's made an extra 2 desks. To get 32 desks, you need to add together those 2 desks Larry made, however many desks Larry can make, and however many desks Ryan can make:

2 + 4d + 2d = 32.

Then just simplify and solve:

6d = 30
d = 5.

It'll take 5 days for them to make 32 desks. Hope this helps! Please rate this answer as brainliest if you liked it!! thank you!!!