document.write( "Question 778064: I've tried doing the following problem by using an example in the book to no avail. Here is the problem:
\n" ); document.write( "John takes 3 hours longer than Andrew to peel 500 pounds of apples. If together they can peel 500 pounds of apples in 8 hours, then how long would it take each one working alone?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "book answer: Andrew takes 14.6 hours and John takes 17.6 hours \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #474425 by rothauserc(4718)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Andrew takes x hours
\n" ); document.write( "John takes x+3 hours
\n" ); document.write( "Together they take 8 hours
\n" ); document.write( "Now consider amount of task completed per hour
\n" ); document.write( "Andrew takes 1/x hour
\n" ); document.write( "John takes 1/(x+3) hour
\n" ); document.write( "together takes 1/8 hour
\n" ); document.write( "Adding their labor
\n" ); document.write( "(1/x) + (1/(x+3)) = 1/8
\n" ); document.write( "(x+3+x) / (x^2 + 3x) = 1/8
\n" ); document.write( "cross multiply the fractions
\n" ); document.write( "8*(2x+3) = x^2 +3x
\n" ); document.write( "16x+24 = x^2 +3x
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 -13x -24 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "now use the quadratic formula to solve for x
\n" ); document.write( "x = (13 + square root (13^2 +4*24)) / 2 = 14.6
\n" ); document.write( "x = (13 - square root (13^2 +4*24)) / 2 = -1.6
\n" ); document.write( "so we have Andrew takes 14.6 hours and John takes 17.6 hours
\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "
\n" );