SOLUTION: It takes an apprentice four times as long as the experienced plumber to replace the pipes under an old house. It takes them 14 hours when they work together. How long would it take

Question 993451: It takes an apprentice four times as long as the experienced plumber to replace the pipes under an old house. It takes them 14 hours when they work together. How long would it take the apprentice alone?
Answer by CubeyThePenguin(3113) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The plumber can replace 1/x of the pipes in 1 hour. (so x hours to replace by himself)
The apprentice can replace 1/4x of the pipes in 1 hour. (so 4x hours to replace by himself)

1/x + 1/(4x) = 1/14
5/(4x) = 1/14
x = 35/2

The plumber takes x = 35/2 hours to replace the pipes alone.
The apprentice takes 4x = 70 hours to replace the pipes alone.
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