SOLUTION: Jim and Shirley, working together, can rake the yard in 3 hours. Working alone, Shirley takes three times as long as Jim. How long does it take Jim to rake the yard alone?

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Question 996414: Jim and Shirley, working together, can rake the yard in 3 hours. Working alone, Shirley takes three times as long as Jim. How long does it take Jim to rake the yard alone?
Found 2 solutions by lwsshak3, josgarithmetic:
Answer by lwsshak3(11628)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Jim and Shirley, working together, can rake the yard in 3 hours. Working alone, Shirley takes three times as long as Jim. How long does it take Jim to rake the yard alone?
let x=time it takes jim to rake the yard alone
1/x=his work rate
let x=time it takes Shirley to rake the yard alone
1/3x=her work rate
sum of indv. work rates=work rate working together
1/x+1/3x=1/3
lcd:3x
3+1=x
x=4
time it takes jim to rake the yard alone=4 hrs

Answer by josgarithmetic(39617)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
           JIM      SHIRLEY     TOGETHER

RATE        1/t      1/(3t)      1/3


Rate for Jim and Shirley together is the sum of their individual rates.

Solve for t.

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