SOLUTION: a mason can build a wall in six hours less than an apprentice. together they can build the wall in four hours. how long would it take the apprentice, working alone, to build the wa

Algebra ->  Rate-of-work-word-problems -> SOLUTION: a mason can build a wall in six hours less than an apprentice. together they can build the wall in four hours. how long would it take the apprentice, working alone, to build the wa      Log On


   

Question 830551: a mason can build a wall in six hours less than an apprentice. together they can build the wall in four hours. how long would it take the apprentice, working alone, to build the wall?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39614) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Rate%2Atime=job
The rate of work is best stated in units of jobs per time.

Unknown time for the apprentice to do 1 job. Let this time be x.
Mason, 1%2F%28x-6%29
Apprentice, 1%2Fx
Both together, highlight%281%2F%28x-6%29%2B1%2Fx=1%2F4%29, because together, their rate is one job in four hours.

Solve for x and you can find both of their individual rates.