SOLUTION: Mutt and Jeff need to paint a fence. Mutt can do the job alone 4 hours faster than Jeff. If together they work for 13 hours and finish only 1/2 of the job, how long would Jeff need

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Misc -> SOLUTION: Mutt and Jeff need to paint a fence. Mutt can do the job alone 4 hours faster than Jeff. If together they work for 13 hours and finish only 1/2 of the job, how long would Jeff need      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 280699: Mutt and Jeff need to paint a fence. Mutt can do the job alone 4 hours faster than Jeff. If together they work for 13 hours and finish only 1/2 of the job, how long would Jeff need to do the job alone
Found 2 solutions by richwmiller, scott8148:
Answer by richwmiller(17219) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
double the hours to finish the job
26/m+26/j=1
m=j-4
j=54.0768 hours
m=50.0768 hours

Answer by scott8148(6628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
[13 / (j - 4)] + (13 / j) = 1/2

26j + 26j - 104 = j^2 - 4j ___ 0 = j^2 - 56j + 104

use quadratic formula to find j