SOLUTION: help plz and solution. A can do a piece of work in 4 1/2 days. After he has worked three days, B joined him and they finished the work in 1 7/8 days. How long can B do the work alo

Algebra ->  Rate-of-work-word-problems -> SOLUTION: help plz and solution. A can do a piece of work in 4 1/2 days. After he has worked three days, B joined him and they finished the work in 1 7/8 days. How long can B do the work alo      Log On


   

Question 909812: help plz and solution. A can do a piece of work in 4 1/2 days. After he has worked three days, B joined him and they finished the work in 1 7/8 days. How long can B do the work alone?
Answer by richwmiller(17219) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
One worker works alone for 3/x days
Two workers work together for 1.875/x days and 1.875/4.5 days since he can do the job alone in 4.5 days
One worker worked 1.875 days with his partner and 3 days alone for a total of 4.875 days
3/x+1.875/x+1.875/4.5=1
4.875/x+1.875/4.5=1
4.875/x+=1-1.875/4.5
4.875/x+=0.58333333
4.875=0.58333333*x
4.875/0.58333333=x
x=8.35714286 days if he had done the job alone
check
3/8.35714286+1.875/8.35714286+1.875/4.5=1
0.35897436+0.22435897+0.41666667=1
1.0=1
ok
codewtet3