SOLUTION: A farmer can plow a given field in 8 hours. If his son helps him, they can plow the field together in 4 hours. How long would it take his son to plow the field alone? Express your

Algebra ->  Rate-of-work-word-problems -> SOLUTION: A farmer can plow a given field in 8 hours. If his son helps him, they can plow the field together in 4 hours. How long would it take his son to plow the field alone? Express your       Log On


   



Question 997338: A farmer can plow a given field in 8 hours. If his son helps him, they can plow the field together in 4 hours. How long would it take his son to plow the field alone? Express your answer as a fraction reduced to lowest terms, if needed.
Answer by Boreal(15235) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
In one hour, the farmer can plow (1/8) of the field.
With his son (1/8) + (1/x)=(1/4), where x is the hours it will take the son alone.
Multiply everything by 8x to clear fractions
x+8=2x
x=8 hours.
In one hour the two together plow (2/8) or one quarter of the field. It will be 4 hours for the whole field.