A landscaper estimates that a set of plants can be installed in 6 hours by 12 workers. The landscaper wants to finish a set of plants in 4 hours. Assuming that the variables are inversely related, how many workers should the landscaper bring to the job?
Answer:
18 workers should the landscaper bring to the job to finish a set of plants in 4 hours.
Step-by-step explanation:
As given
Assuming that a set of plants can be installed in number of hours inversely related to the number of workers.
Let us assume that the number of hours needed for set up a plant be x.
Let us assume that the number of worker needed for setup a plant be y.
Thus
\(x \propto \frac{1}{y}\)
\(x = \frac{k}{y}\)
Where k is the constant of proportionality.
As given
A landscaper estimates that a set of plants can be installed in 6 hours by 12 workers.
x = 6 , y = 12
Thus
\(6 = \frac{k}{12}\)
\(6\times 12 = k\)
k = 72
As given
The landscaper wants to finish a set of plants in 4 hours.
x = 4 , k = 72
Thus
\(4= \frac{72}{y}\)
\(y= \frac{72}{4}\)
y = 18
Therefore 18 workers should the landscaper bring to the job to finish a set of plants in 4 hours.