SOLUTION: Can someone please help me solve this work word problem? Tom and Sam can finish a plowing job in two hours. Tom working alone can do the job in 7 hours. How long would it take S

Question 1034509: Can someone please help me solve this work word problem?
Tom and Sam can finish a plowing job in two hours. Tom working alone can do the job in 7 hours. How long would it take Sam to finish the same job alone?
Any help would be appreciated.
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Tom and Sam can finish a plowing job in two hours. Tom working alone can do the job in 7 hours. How long would it take Sam to finish the same job alone?
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together rate:: 1/2 job/hr
----------------------
Tom's rate:: 1/7 job/hr
Sam's rate:: 1/x job/hr
------------------------------
Equation:
rate + rate = together rate
1/x + 1/7 = 1/2
-------------------------
14 + 2x = 7x
5x = 14
x = 2.8 hrs = 2hr 48 min (time for Sam to do the job alone)
------------
Cheers,
Stan H.
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