document.write( "Question 35410: Cant figure out this word problem, any help would be nice.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Jake can cut and split a cord of firewood in 6 fewer hours than Mike. When they work together, it takes them 4 hours. How long would it take each of them to do the job alone? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #21498 by stanbon(75887)\"\" \"About 
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Jake can cut and split a cord of firewood in 6 fewer hours than Mike. When they work together, it takes them 4 hours. How long would it take each of them to do the job alone?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let time it takes Mike be \"x\" hrs.
\n" ); document.write( "Then time it takes Jake is \"x-6\" hrs.
\n" ); document.write( "Mike's rate is 1/x job/hr
\n" ); document.write( "Jame's rate is 1/(x-6) job/hr
\n" ); document.write( "Working together their rate is 1/4 job/hr.
\n" ); document.write( "EQUATION:
\n" ); document.write( "1/x + 1/(x-6) = 1/4
\n" ); document.write( "4(x-6) + 4x = x(x-6)
\n" ); document.write( "4x-24 + 4x = x^2-6x
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-14+24=0
\n" ); document.write( "(x-2)(x-12)=0
\n" ); document.write( "x=2 or x=12
\n" ); document.write( "Only the x-12 is realistic for this problem.
\n" ); document.write( "Mike can do the job in x= 12 hrs.
\n" ); document.write( "Jake can do the job in x-6= 6 hrs.
\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "stan H. \n" ); document.write( "
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