SOLUTION: Two harvesters take one hour to harvest a field. One of these harvesters takes 1.5 hrs. How long does it take the second harvester to do the field alone?

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Question 690740: Two harvesters take one hour to harvest a field. One of these harvesters takes 1.5 hrs. How long does it take the second harvester to do the field alone?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The rate of harvesting for the 2 harvesters working together is ( 1 field ) / ( 1 hr )
The rate of harvesting for the 1st harvester is ( 1 field ( / ( 1.5 hrs )
Let +t+ = the time in hrs for the 2nd harvester working alone
The 2nd harvester's rate would be ( 1 field ) / ( t hrs )
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Add their rates to get their rate working together
+1%2F1.5+%2B+1%2Ft+=+1%2F1+
+2%2F3+%2B+1%2Ft+=+1+
Multiply both sides by +3t+
+2t+%2B+3+=+3t+
+t+=+3+
It takes 3 hrs for the 2nd harvester working alone
to harvest the field