1956 AMC 12 Problem 47

Attempt Problem 47 of the 1956 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 1956 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

47.

An engineer said he could finish a highway section in 33 days with his present supply of a certain type of machine. However, with 33 more of these machines the job could be done in 22 days. If the machines all work at the same rate, how many days would it take to do the job with one machine?
66
1212
1515
1818
3636
Answer: D
Concepts:work ratesinverse proportionlinear equation
Small hint:
Let mm be the present number of machines and measure work in machine-days
Big hint:
Equate 3m3m with 2(m+3)2(m+3)
Solution:
If there are presently mm machines, the job requires 3m3m machine-days. With three more machines it requires 2(m+3)2(m+3) machine-days, so 3m=2(m+3), 3m=2(m+3), giving m=6.m=6. The job therefore requires 3m=183m=18 machine-days, so one machine would take 1818 days.
Thus, the correct answer is D.
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