document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=656097>Question 656097</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Carolyn and Brian work in an accounting office.  If they work together they can complete a corporate tax return in 2.5 hours.  Working alone, it would take Brian 35 minutes longer than Carolyn to complete the return.  How long does it take each person working alone to finish the job? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #409346 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=lwsshak3><B>lwsshak3(11628)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=lwsshak3><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=409346\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Carolyn and Brian work in an accounting office. If they work together they can complete a corporate tax return in 2.5 hours. Working alone, it would take Brian 35 minutes longer than Carolyn to complete the return. How long does it take each person working alone to finish the job?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "**<BR>\n" );
document.write( "use minutes for time<BR>\n" );
document.write( "let x=time it takes Carolyn to finish the job working alone<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1/x=her work rate<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+35=time it takes Brian to finish the job working alone<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1/(x+35)=his work rate<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2.5 hrs=150 min=given time it takes to finish the job working together<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1/150=work rate working together<BR>\n" );
document.write( "...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "sum of individual work rates=work rate working together<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1/x)+1/(x+35)=1/150<BR>\n" );
document.write( "LCD:x(x+35)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+35+x=x(x+35)/150<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x+35=(x^2+35x)/150<BR>\n" );
document.write( "300x+5250=x^2+35x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2-265x-5250=0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "solve for x using following quadratic formula:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "a=1, b=-265, c=-5250<BR>\n" );
document.write( "ans: x&#8776;283.5 min<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+35&#8776;318.5 min<BR>\n" );
document.write( "time it takes Carolyn to finish the job working alone&#8776;283.5 min&#8776;4.7 hrs<BR>\n" );
document.write( "time it takes Brian to finish the job working alone=318.5 min&#8776;5.3 hrs<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );