Working simultaneously, four fudge machines complete a big order in 32 hours. All the machines at the fudge factory work at the same pace. a If only half of the machines are working, in how many hours will the order be complete?

4 Hours

Step-by-step explanation:

Let's say that the rate of the machines 1/x, because every time they complete an order, it takes them x hours. To find x, we have to add the the rates of the individual machines, which would equal the rate of the machines working together. We know that there are four machines working together at the same rate, and it took them 32 hours.

So:

1/x + 1/x + 1/x + 1/x = 1/32

1/4x = 1/32

4x = 32

x = 8

Thus, the rate of the machines is 1/8.

Now we have to find the time of the order with only half of the machines working together. This time, we don't know the combined rate, so I'll substitute it for y.

1/8 + 1/8 = 1/y

1/4 = 1/y

y = 4

The time taken to complete it is 4 hours.

the least common denominator is 40