SOLUTION: Bob, Larisa, and Susie work on an assembly line at a car company. The assembly of the company’s best-selling car can be completed if Bob and Larisa work together for 4 hours and Su

Algebra ->  Rate-of-work-word-problems -> SOLUTION: Bob, Larisa, and Susie work on an assembly line at a car company. The assembly of the company’s best-selling car can be completed if Bob and Larisa work together for 4 hours and Su      Log On


   



Question 1054055: Bob, Larisa, and Susie work on an assembly line at a car company. The assembly of the company’s best-selling car can be completed if Bob and Larisa work together for 4 hours and Susie works alone for 2 hours; or if Bob and Larisa work together for 2 hours and Susie works alone for 5 hours; or if Bob works alone for 6 hours, Larisa works alone for 2 hours, and Susie works alone for 1 hour. Due to budget constraints one employee must be laid off. Decide which employee should be laid off by determining the time it takes each employee working alone to assemble this product and selecting the least productive employee.
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let b = Bob's time working alone
Let a = Larisa's time alone
Let s = Suzie's time alone
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Let the completed job = 1
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Write an equation for each statement
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Bob, Larisa, and Susie work on an assembly line at a car company.
The assembly of the company’s best-selling car can be completed if Bob and Larisa work together for 4 hours and Susie works alone for 2 hours;
4%2Fb+%2B+4%2Fa+%2B+2%2Fs+=+1
or if Bob and Larisa work together for 2 hours and Susie works alone for 5 hours;
2%2Fb+%2B+2%2Fa+%2B+5%2Fs+=+1
or if Bob works alone for 6 hours, Larisa works alone for 2 hours, and Susie works alone for 1 hour.
6%2Fb+%2B+2%2Fa+%2B+1%2Fs+=+1
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multiply the 2nd equation by 2, subtract the 1st equation
4%2Fb+%2B+4%2Fa+%2B+10%2Fs+=+2
4%2Fb+%2B+4%2Fa+%2B+2%2Fs+=+1
-------------subtraction eliminates b and a find s
0+%2B+0+%2B+8%2Fs+=+1
s = 8 hrs required by Susie working alone
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Replace s with 8, subtract, the 2nd equation from 3rd equation
6%2Fb+%2B+2%2Fa+%2B+1%2F8+=+1
2%2Fb+%2B+2%2Fa+%2B+5%2F8+=+1
----------------subtraction eliminates a, find b
4%2Fb+%2B+0+-+4%2F8+=+0
4%2Fb+=+4%2F8
b = 8 hrs also for Bob working alone
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Find a using the 1st equation, replacing b & s
4%2F8+%2B+4%2Fa+%2B+2%2F8+=+1
4%2Fa+%2B+6%2F8+=+1
Multiply equation by 8a
4(32) + 6a = 8a
32 = 8a - 6a
32 = 2a
a = 32/2
a = 16 hrs for Larisa, obviously the one to get the ax
:
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Confirm this in the 3rd equation
6%2F8+%2B+2%2F16+%2B+1%2F8+=+1
6%2F8+%2B+1%2F8+%2B+1%2F8+=+1