document.write( "Question 196518: A computer can process a company's payroll checks in 4 hours. A second computer, twice as fast is available. When the smaller computer has worked for 2 hours, the second faster machine is put on line. How much longer did it take the two machines working together to finish the payroll?\r
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document.write( "My equation: 1/4 + 2(1/4)=1/t/2\r
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document.write( "I not sure how to represent the fact the first machine has already completed half of the work. \r
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document.write( "Combined the two computers can complete 3/4 of the work per hour\r
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document.write( "the first computer worked for 2hours completing 1/2 of work\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #147277 by scott8148(6628)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! if t equals the time remaining, \n" ); document.write( "then t/4 is the fraction comleted by the first machine \n" ); document.write( "and t/2 is the fraction completed by the second machine\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "since the first machine has completed half the task, the sum of the fractions is 1/2 \n" ); document.write( "t/4 + t/2 = 1/2\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "alternatively; looking at the whole task \n" ); document.write( "(t+2)/4 is the fraction completed by the 1st machine \n" ); document.write( "and t/2 is the fraction completed by the 2nd machine\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(t+2)/4 + t/2 = 1\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the two equations are equivalent \n" ); document.write( " |