document.write( "Question 582010: Please help solve this problem....thanks.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "George can cut and split a cord of firewood in 3 fewer hour(s) than Skylar can. When they work togethe it takes them 2 hr(s).How long would it take each of them to do the job alone?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "George?
\n" ); document.write( "Skylar?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Simplify answer
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Algebra.Com's Answer #371927 by ptaylor(2198)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x=amount of time it takes Skyler to do the job
\n" ); document.write( "Then (x-3) = amount of time it takes George to do the job
\n" ); document.write( "Skyler works at the rate of 1/x job per hour
\n" ); document.write( "George works at the rate of 1/(x-3) job per hour
\n" ); document.write( "Together they work at the rate of 1/2 of the job per hour
\n" ); document.write( "sooooo:
\n" ); document.write( "1/x +1/(x-3)=1/2 multiply each side by 2x(x-3)
\n" ); document.write( "2(x-3)+2x=x(x-3) simplify
\n" ); document.write( "2x-6+2x=x^2-3x collect like terms
\n" ); document.write( "4x-6=x^2-3x
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-7x+6=0 quadratic in standard form and it can be factored
\n" ); document.write( "(x-6)(x-1)=0
\n" ); document.write( "x=6
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "x=1 Clearly x=1 does not work because George would have do do negative work to do the job in 3 hours fewer time, sooooo
\n" ); document.write( "x=6 hours time time it takes Skyler to do the job
\n" ); document.write( "x-3=6-3=3 hours time it takes George to do the job
\n" ); document.write( "CK
\n" ); document.write( "1/6+1/3=1/2
\n" ); document.write( "1/6 + 2/6=1/2
\n" ); document.write( "1/2=1/2\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Hope this helps---ptaylor
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