Question

An economy consists of three workers: Brian, Edison, and Kevin. Each works 10 hours a day and can produce two services: mowing lawns and washing cars. In an hour, Brian can either mow 2 lawns or wash 1 car; Edison can either mow 1 lawn or wash 1 car; and Kevin can either mow 1 lawn or wash 2 cars.
For each of the scenarios listed below, determine how many lawns will be mowed and how many cars will be washed per day.

a. All three spend all their time mowing lawns. (A)
b. All three spend all their time washing cars. (B)
c. All three spend half their time on each activity. (C)
d. Tim spends half his time on each activity, while Brian only washes cars and Edison only mows lawns. (D)

Answer 1

Answer:

Brian can mow 2 lawns or wash 1 car in an hour. Edison can do one of each and Kevin can mow 1 lawn or wash 2 cars.

a. All three send their time mowing lawns:

= (2 * 10) + (1 * 10) + (1 * 10)

= 40 lawns

No cars washed.

b. All three spend all their time washing cars.

No lawns.

Cars washed = (1 * 10) + (1 * 10) + (2 * 10)

= 40 cars washed

c. All three spend half their time on each activity.

Half their time = 5 hours.

Lawns mowed = (2 * 5) + (1 * 5) + (1 * 5)

= 20 lawns mowed

Cars washed = (1 * 5) + (1 * 5) + (2 * 5)

= 20 cars washed

d. Kevin spends half his time on each activity, while Brian only washes cars and Edison only mows lawns. (D)

Lawns mowed = (1 * 5) + (1 * 10)

= 15 lawns mowed

Cars washed = (2 * 5) + (1 * 10)

= 20 cars washed