If a dorm houses 36 inmates, how many shower heads are required at minimum?

If a dorm houses 36 inmates, how many shower heads are required at minimum?

• A. 2
• B. 3
• C. 4
• D. 5

Answer: (B)

The key idea is using the inmate-per-shower-head ratio from the standards to ensure there’s enough access during shower times. To find the minimum number of shower heads, you divide the total number of inmates by the maximum number of inmates allowed per shower head, then round up to cover everyone. Here, the standard for dorm housing commonly allows about 12 inmates per shower head. So for 36 inmates, 36 divided by 12 equals 3, meaning at least three shower heads are required to meet the rule. If there were only two shower heads, each would have to serve up to 18 inmates, which would exceed the allowed ratio. Four shower heads would work as well, but the question asks for the minimum, which is three.

The key idea is using the inmate-per-shower-head ratio from the standards to ensure there’s enough access during shower times. To find the minimum number of shower heads, you divide the total number of inmates by the maximum number of inmates allowed per shower head, then round up to cover everyone.

Here, the standard for dorm housing commonly allows about 12 inmates per shower head. So for 36 inmates, 36 divided by 12 equals 3, meaning at least three shower heads are required to meet the rule.

If there were only two shower heads, each would have to serve up to 18 inmates, which would exceed the allowed ratio. Four shower heads would work as well, but the question asks for the minimum, which is three.