document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=143250>Question 143250</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0395352495/algebrahomeworkh>algebra: structure and method: book1</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Together Mary and Sara can mow a golf course in 15 hours. Alone it takes Mary 2 hours less than Sara. Find the time it takes each of them to mow the course alone. PLEASE HELP!!!! the answer is m=29 and s=31, but I don't know how to get there. HELP APPRECIATED!!!! </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #104263 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=scott8148><B>scott8148(6628)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=scott8148><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=scott8148><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=104263\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> the time together is some fraction of the time alone __ the fractions add to 1 (the entire task)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "let x=Mary, so x+2=Sara\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(15/x)+[15/(x+2)]=1 __ multiplying by x(x+2) __ 15(x+2)+15x=x(x+2) __ 30x+30=x^2+2x\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "subtracting 30x+30 __ 0=x^2-28x-30\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "use quadratic formula to find x __ the answers are very close to (but not exactly) 29 and 31 </SPAN>\n" );
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