document.write( "Question 404912: Working together, two people can mow a large lawn in 4 hours. One person can do the job alone 1 hour faster than the other person. How long does it take each person working alone to mow the lawn?\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #286146 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! Working together, two people can mow a large lawn in 4 hours. \n" ); document.write( " One person can do the job alone 1 hour faster than the other person. \n" ); document.write( " How long does it take each person working alone to mow the lawn? \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "let t = time required by the faster person \n" ); document.write( "then \n" ); document.write( "(t+1) = time required by the other person \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Let the completed job = 1 \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "each man will do a fraction of the work, the two fractions add up to 1 \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Multiply by t(t+1) to clear the denominators, results: \n" ); document.write( "4(t+1) + 4t = t(t+1) \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "4t + 4 + 4t = t^2 + t \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "8t + 4 = t^2 + t \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "0 = t^2 + t - 8t - 4 \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "t^2 - 7t - 4 = 0 \n" ); document.write( "we have to use the quadratic formula to solve this \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "In this problem x=t, a = 1, b= -7, c = -4 \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "Two solutions, only want the positive solution \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "t = \n" ); document.write( "t = 7.53 hrs for the faster man to do the joy \n" ); document.write( "and 8.53 hrs for the slower man \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Check solution \n" ); document.write( "4/7.53 + 4/8.53 \n" ); document.write( "5.31 + .469 = 1; confirms our solutions of 7.53 and 8.53 hr \n" ); document.write( " |