Question

Two tailors, Valentina and Laura, sit down to do some embroidery. Valentina can embroider 2 shirts per hour, and Laura can get through 3 shirts per hour. In addition, the tailors had previously finished some shirts. Valentina has already completed 15 shirts, and Laura has completed 11 shirts. Valentina and Laura decide to take a break when they have finished the same total number of shirts. How many shirts, in total, will each tailor have finished? How long will that take?

Answer 1

Answer:

Valentina and Laura finished the same total number of shirts in $4$ hours.

Total number of shirts finished by Valentina $=23$

Total number of shirts finished by Laura $=23$

Step-by-step explanation:

Suppose that Valentina and Laura finished the same total number of shirts in $t$ hours.

Valentina can embroider 2 shirts per hour and Valentina has already completed 15 shirts.

Total number of shirts finished by Valentina $=2t+15$

Laura can get through 3 shirts per hour and Laura has completed 11 shirts.

Total number of shirts finished by Laura $=3t+11$

Therefore,

$2t+15=3t+11\\3t-2t=15-11\\t=4$

So,

Valentina and Laura finished the same total number of shirts in $4$ hours.

Total number of shirts finished by Valentina $=2(4)+15=8+15=23$

Total number of shirts finished by Laura $=3(4)+11=12+11=23$