SOLUTION: The larger of two printers being used to print the payroll for a major corporation requires 40 min. to print the payroll. After both printers have been operating for 10 min., the s

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Question 851409: The larger of two printers being used to print the payroll for a major corporation requires 40 min. to print the payroll. After both printers have been operating for 10 min., the smaller printer malfunctions. The larger printer requires 15 more minutes to complete the payroll. How long would it take the smaller printer working alone to print the payroll?
I have been trying to figure this problem out for past hour, help please.
Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x= time for the small printer to do the job alone, in minutes.
1%2Fx= rate of work for the small printer, in jobs per minute.
1%2F40= rate of work for the big printer, in jobs per minute
10%2A%281%2Fx%2B1%2F40%29= work done by both printers in the first 10 minutes.
15%2A%281%2F40%29= work done by the big printer in the last 15 minutes.
10%2A%281%2Fx%2B1%2F40%29%2B15%2A%281%2F40%29=1= number of payroll jobs done.
Multiplying both sides of the equal sign by 40x we get
10%2A%2840%2Bx%29%2B15x=40x
400%2B10x%2B15x=40x
400%2B25x=40x
400=40x-25x
400=15x%7D%7D%0D%0A%7B%7B%7B400%2F15=x
highlight%28x=80%2F3%29