The time t required to do a job varies inversely with the number of people p who work on the job. If it takes 3 hours for 16 people to decorate the hall for homecoming, how many hours will it take 24 people to do the same job?

Question

The time t required to do a job varies inversely with the number of people p who work on the job.  If it takes 3 hours for 16 people to decorate the hall for homecoming, how many hours will it take 24 people to do the same job?

anonymous · Answer

Its either 1 hour, 2 hours, or 2.5 hours

hartnn · Answer

*varies inversely* means the product is constant(or same)
so, 
time1 * no. of people1 = time 2* no. of people2
got this ?

hartnn · Answer

time1 = 3, no of people1 = 16
no of people2=24, just find time2

anonymous · Answer

no???

hartnn · Answer

ok, when one quantity varies inversely as other, as one increases, the other decreases, such that their product is constant.

anonymous · Answer

Okay

hartnn · Answer

so, whats product of time and number of ppl in 1st case ??
3*16 = .... ?

anonymous · Answer

48

hartnn · Answer

yes, this 48 will remain same for any pair of values of time and number of ppl
so, when no. of ppl = 24
time *24 = 48 
will give you time = ... ?

anonymous · Answer

2?

hartnn · Answer

yes, those 24 ppl will take 2 hours
did you get it how ?

anonymous · Answer

Yessss :o

hartnn · Answer

great! :D