SOLUTION: Working together , two beavers can construct a dam in 4 days . Working separately, the smaller of the two beavers takes three times as long to build the same dam. How long will it

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: Working together , two beavers can construct a dam in 4 days . Working separately, the smaller of the two beavers takes three times as long to build the same dam. How long will it       Log On


   

Question 942058: Working together , two beavers can construct a dam in 4 days . Working separately, the smaller of the two beavers takes three times as long to build the same dam. How long will it take the smaller beaver to build the same dam working alone?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
+1%2Ft+ = rate of working for bigger beaver
+1%2F%283t%29+ = rate of working for smaller beaver
+1%2F4+ = rate of working for both beavers together
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+1%2Ft+%2B+1%2F%283t%29+=+1%2F4+
Multiply both sides by +12t+
+12+%2B+4+=+3t+
+3t+=+16+
+t+=+5+%2B+1%2F3+
The smaller beaver takes 5 and 1/3 days
to build the dam working alone
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check:
+1%2F%2816%2F3%29+%2B+1%2F16+=+1%2F4+
+3%2F16+%2B+1%2F16+=+1%2F4+
+1%2F4+=+1%2F4+
OK