Question

5 bricklayers can lay a total of 50 bricks in 30 minutes. How many bricklayers will

be required to lay a total of 60 bricks in 18 minutes?

Answer 1

First look at the number of bricks alone.

Going from 50 bricks to 60 bricks is more work, thus it will require more people. The number of people would be the ratio of the 2. Since the number must be larger, you know the numerator must be the larger of the 2 numbers, so you get 60/50

Next look at the time alone.

Going from 30 minutes to 20 minutes is more work, thus it will require more people. The number of people would be the ratio of the 2. Since the number must be larger, you know the numerator must be the larger of the 2 numbers, so you get 30/20

Now you can just multiply everything.

= 5*60/50*30/20

= 5*6/5*3/2

= 90\10

= 9.