SOLUTION: One custodian can clean a suite of offices in 3 hours. When a second worker is asked to join the regular custodian, the job takes only 1 1\2 hours. How long would it take the secon

Algebra ->  Algebra  -> Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: One custodian can clean a suite of offices in 3 hours. When a second worker is asked to join the regular custodian, the job takes only 1 1\2 hours. How long would it take the secon      Log On

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Question 31092This question is from textbook Prealgebra and Introductory Algebra
: One custodian can clean a suite of offices in 3 hours. When a second worker is asked to join the regular custodian, the job takes only 1 1\2 hours. How long would it take the second worker to do the same job alone?This question is from textbook Prealgebra and Introductory Algebra

Answer by Paul(988) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
1 1/2 hours --> 3/2
Equation:
let the second worker's time be x
1/3+1/x=1/3/2 ----> 1%2F3%2B1%2Fx=2%2F3
Multiply the whole equation by 6 to remove the fraction:
6%281%2F3%29%2B6%281%2Fx%29=6%282%2F3%29
2%2B6%2Fx=2%282%29
2%2B6%2Fx=4
2x%2B6=4x
2x=6
x=3

Hence, it takes the second custodian about 3 hours to do the job alone.
Paul.