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2008 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 18

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Problem

Bricklayer Brenda would take nine hours to build a chimney alone, and bricklayer Brandon would take 10 hours to build it alone. When they work together, they talk a lot, and their combined output decreases by 10 bricks per hour. Working together, they build the chimney in 5 hours. How many bricks are in the chimney?

\mathrm{(A)}\ 500\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 900\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 950\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 1000\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 1900

Solution

Let x be the number of bricks in the chimney. Using distance = rate \cdot time, we get x = (x/9 + x/10 - 10)\cdot(5). Solving for x, we get \boxed{900}.

See also

2008 AMC 10B (ProblemsResources)
Preceded by
Problem 17
Followed by
Problem 19
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Want to learn how to tackle those tough AMC/AIME/Olympiad algebra problems? Check out Art of Problem Solving's Intermediate Algebra by Richard Rusczyk and Mathew Crawford. Over 1600 problems!
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