document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=84642>Question 84642</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0534400507/algebrahomeworkh>Intermediate Algebra</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I am having difficulty understanding how to set up and solve this word problem. My professor says this can be done with a form of quadratic equation. Please help!\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "\"It takes Billy 2 hours longer to do a certain job than it takes Reena. They worked together for 2 hours; then Reena left and Billy finished the job in 1 hour. How long would it take each of them to do the job alone?\"\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thank you for your help,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "para.lax  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #60975 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=scott8148><B>scott8148(6628)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=scott8148><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=scott8148><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=60975\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> let x equal the time it takes Reena, so x+2 is the time it takes Billy\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "if a person takes 3 hours to do a job, in 1 hour they will do 1/3 of the job ... this is the KEY principle\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Reena works for 2 hours and does 2/x of the job ... Billy works for 3 hours and does 3/(x+2) of the job\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "together, they do the WHOLE job ... (2/x)+(3/(x+2))=1 ... multiplying by x(x+2) gives 2(x+2)+3x=x(x+2)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2x+4+3x=x^2+2x ... (here's your quadratic) x^2-3x-4=0 ... (x-4)(x+1)=0 ... so x=4 and x=-1 (negative value not realistic)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Reena takes 4 hours to do the job and Billy takes 6 hours </SPAN>\n" );
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