The second sentence can be misleading.
One might think that it's saying that the machines print the same pages per minute as each other.

But if you look at the whole question, that is not true. That sentence is actually trying to say that the number of pages each machine prints per minute doesn't change.


So for example, let's say machine A prints at 50 pages per minute. So this doesn't change and it's always 50 pages printed every time one minute has passed.

Hence, how do i solve this qn?

A and B : 348 pages in 4 minutes combined.

In 5 minutes, 348 x 5/4 = 435 pages are printed

B and C : 276 pages in 3 minutes combined.

In 5 minutes, 276 x 5/3 = 460 pages are printed.

Notice that both situations have machine B. So the difference in total pages printed is between machine A and machine C.

460 - 435 = 25

Thank u, J.. it is so well explained. Thank u

Welcome. Please check out the edited working above.

I will. Am reading through them now

Very clear guide to obtain answer J.

I used a fractions method to get the total in 5 minutes for both cases.

Typically , we will divide by 4 (and 3 for the 2nd case) to get the total for 1 minute.

Then we multiply by 5 to get the total for 5 minutes.


What fractions does is to combine this two into a single step.

x 5/4 is the same as x 5, then divide by 4, which is the same as divide by 4 then x 5.

x 5/3 is the same as x 5, then divide by 3.
which is the same as divide by 3 then x 5

Thanks AC! Your model drawing is very clear too