Calculating Combined Work Rate

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 74 views

Introduction

When two individuals with different work rates collaborate on a task, it's essential to understand how their combined efforts will impact the overall time required to complete the task. In this scenario, we have Dirk, who can clean a playground in 5 hours, and Geralyn, who can accomplish the same task in 4 hours. To determine the amount of time it would take for them to clean a playground together, we need to consider their individual work rates and how they will be affected when working together.

Understanding Work Rate

Work rate is a measure of how much work an individual can complete in a given amount of time. In this case, Dirk's work rate is 1/5 of a playground per hour, while Geralyn's work rate is 1/4 of a playground per hour. When they work together, their combined work rate will be the sum of their individual work rates.

Calculating Combined Work Rate

To calculate the combined work rate of Dirk and Geralyn, we need to add their individual work rates.

Dirk's work rate = 1/5 of a playground per hour Geralyn's work rate = 1/4 of a playground per hour

Combined work rate = Dirk's work rate + Geralyn's work rate = 1/5 + 1/4 = (4 + 5) / 20 = 9/20 of a playground per hour

Determining Time to Clean a Playground Together

Now that we have the combined work rate of Dirk and Geralyn, we can determine the time it would take for them to clean a playground together. To do this, we need to divide the total amount of work (1 playground) by their combined work rate (9/20 of a playground per hour).

Time to clean a playground together = Total amount of work / Combined work rate = 1 playground / (9/20 of a playground per hour) = 20/9 hours = 2.22 hours

Conclusion

In conclusion, to determine the amount of time it would take for Dirk and Geralyn to clean a playground together, we need to calculate their combined work rate and then divide the total amount of work by their combined work rate. This will give us the time it would take for them to complete the task together.

Answer

The correct answer is the combined work rate of Dirk and Geralyn, which is 9/20 of a playground per hour.

Discussion

This problem can be solved using the concept of work rate and combined work rate. When two individuals with different work rates collaborate on a task, their combined work rate will be the sum of their individual work rates. By calculating the combined work rate and dividing the total amount of work by it, we can determine the time it would take for them to complete the task together.

Real-World Applications

This concept has real-world applications in various fields, such as:

Construction: When multiple workers with different work rates are assigned to a construction project, their combined work rate will impact the overall time required to complete the project.
Manufacturing: In a manufacturing setting, workers with different work rates may be assigned to different tasks. Understanding their combined work rate will help managers plan and schedule production more effectively.
Service Industry: In the service industry, workers with different work rates may be assigned to different tasks, such as customer service or food preparation. Understanding their combined work rate will help managers plan and schedule staff more effectively.

Tips and Tricks

When solving problems involving work rate and combined work rate, remember to:

Calculate individual work rates: Before calculating the combined work rate, make sure to calculate the individual work rates of each worker.
Add individual work rates: To calculate the combined work rate, add the individual work rates of each worker.
Divide total work by combined work rate: To determine the time it would take for workers to complete a task together, divide the total amount of work by their combined work rate.

By following these tips and tricks, you'll be able to solve problems involving work rate and combined work rate with ease.