SOLUTION: When Tristan visits Isolde on Valentine's Day, he's planning to bring her a one pound box of chocolates. He knows that when they share a one pound box of chocolates, it usually las

Question 27313: When Tristan visits Isolde on Valentine's Day, he's planning to bring her a one pound box of chocolates. He knows that when they share a one pound box of chocolates, it usually lasts for two weeks. When he eats a one pound box of chocolates on his own it lasts for six weeks.
How long should a one pound box of chocolates last if Isolde eats it alone?
Remember to explain how you solved the problem and show how you know you are correct.
Note: Assume they don't eat faster or slower when they are alone.
Answer by bmauger(101) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
For this problem, we set up two variables, "t" is the rate (in boxes/week) that Tristan eats and "s" is the rate (boxes/week) that Isolde eats. We know that rate (boxes/week) times time (weeks) gives the number of boxes eaten.
So if "they share a box it last for two weeks" means that they're both contributing their rates (s & t) for two weeks (2) and in that time eating one (1) box, or:

The other equation says that "he eats a box of chocolates in 6 weeks" or:
which rearranges to:

Substituting into the first equation:

So she's her "eating rate" is 1/3 boxes/week, so she will finish a box of candy alone in 3 weeks.
RELATED QUESTIONS
I need help with this math problem. Tarzan gave Jane a 1 pound box of chocolates. He... (answered by bucky)

Jonathan purchased 120 pieces of candy for Valentine's Day. He gives 2 pieces to each of (answered by ikleyn)

Your friend is buying candy for his sweetie for Valentine�s Day. He decides to buy... (answered by Mathtut)

) Your friend is buying candy for his sweetie for Valentine�s Day. He decides to buy... (answered by arallie)

Twelve days before Valentine�s Day, Carl decided to give Nicole flowers according to the (answered by Cromlix)

To make a special mix for Valentine�s Day, the owner of a candy store wants to combine... (answered by checkley77)

1.Find k so that the numbers 2k+1, 3k+4, and 7k+6 form a geometric sequence 2.Glenn... (answered by solver91311)

In February, the price charged by Friendly Flowers for roses was inversely proportional... (answered by josmiceli)

Sophia was given a box of chocolates for her birthday and ate two-thirds of them right... (answered by josgarithmetic)