SOLUTION: Mari and Brice are picking oranges. Mari has picked 2 boxes of oranges and is picking 5 boxes per hour. Brice has picked 5 boxes of oranges and is picking at 3 boxes per hour. In

Algebra ->  Rate-of-work-word-problems -> SOLUTION: Mari and Brice are picking oranges. Mari has picked 2 boxes of oranges and is picking 5 boxes per hour. Brice has picked 5 boxes of oranges and is picking at 3 boxes per hour. In       Log On


   

Question 24101: Mari and Brice are picking oranges. Mari has picked 2 boxes of oranges and is picking 5 boxes per hour. Brice has picked 5 boxes of oranges and is picking at 3 boxes per hour. In how many hours will they have picked the same number of boxes?
Answer by rapaljer(4671) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x = number of hours of picking oranges
5x = number of boxes picked by Mari in x hours
3x = number of boxes picked by Brice in x hours
Mari boxes = 2+5*x
Brice boxes = 5+3*x

When they are equal,
2+ 5x = 5 + 3x
2+5x - 3x = 5 + 3x - 3x
2 + 2x = 5
2-2 + 2x = 5 -2
2x = 3
x= 3/2 = 1.5 hours

Check: In 1.5 hours,
Mari picked 2 + 7.5 boxes = 9.5 boxes
Brice picked 5 + 4.5 boxes = 9.5 boxes
It checks!!

R^2 at SCC