16Hit1600
Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisVery hardTurns of a small gear

Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question

Two gears mesh so that their teeth move together. The larger gear has 40 teeth and the smaller gear has 15 teeth. When the larger gear makes 3 complete turns, how many complete turns does the smaller gear make?

Answer: 8

3 turns of the large gear move 120 teeth past the meshing point, and 120 ÷ 15 = 8.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 3
3 assumes the gears turn equally.
If you answered 24
24 multiplies 3 by 8.
If you answered 1.125
1.125 divides 3 by 40/15, inverting the ratio.

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