1950 AMC 12 Problem 29

Attempt Problem 29 of the 1950 AMC 12 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1950 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

29.

A manufacturer built a machine which will address 500500 envelopes in 88 minutes. He wishes to build another machine so that when both are operating together they will address 500500 envelopes in 22 minutes. The equation used to find how many minutes xx it would require the second machine to address 500500 envelopes alone is:
8−x=28-x=2
18+1x=12\dfrac18+\dfrac1x=\dfrac12
5008+500x=500\dfrac{500}{8}+\dfrac{500}{x}=500
x2+x8=1\dfrac{x}{2}+\dfrac{x}{8}=1
None of these answers
Answer: B
Concepts:raterational equation
Small hint:
Measure each machine’s rate in batches of 500500 envelopes per minute
Big hint:
The two individual rates must add to the combined rate
Solution:
The first machine completes 18\tfrac18 of a 500500-envelope batch per minute, and the second completes 1x\tfrac1x of a batch per minute. Together they must complete 12\tfrac12 of a batch per minute. Therefore the required equation is 18+1x=12. \frac18+\frac1x=\frac12.
Thus, the correct answer is B.
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