SOLUTION: On​ Monday, Alberta picked the strawberry​ patch, and Ernie sold the berries. On​ Tuesday, Ernie picked and Alberta​ sold, but it took him 2 hours longer to

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Question 1089241: On​ Monday, Alberta picked the strawberry​ patch, and Ernie sold the berries. On​ Tuesday, Ernie picked and Alberta​ sold, but it took him 2 hours longer to get the berries picked than it took Alberta. On Wednesday they worked together and got all of the berries picked in 5 hours. How long did it take Ernie to pick the berries by​ himself? Find an exact answer and an approximate answer to the problem.
Answer by josmiceli(19441)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let = Alberta's time in hrs to pick on monday
= Ernie's time in hrs to pick on tuesday
= their time in hrs picking together on wednesday
---------------------------------------------------
I think what they are not telling you is that they need a
certain amount of berries each day, and they stop picking
when they get that amount. I can call that amount [ 1 load of berries ]
------------------------------------------------------------
Alberta's rate of picking:
[ 1 load of berries ] / [ t hrs ]
Ernie's rate of picking:
[ 1 load of berries ] / [ t + 2 hrs ]
Their rate of picking working together:
[ 1 load of berries ] / [ 5 hrs ]
-----------------------------------
Add their individual rates to get their rate working together

Multiply each side by




Complete the square





This is Ernies exact time in hrs



Ernie's approximate time in hrs
---------------------------------
check the answer:





OK
( you can check using also )

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