Question 985523
A landscaping crew is using three different lawnmowers to cut a large lawn.
 Lawnmower A can cut the entire lawn by itself in 4 hours.
 Lawnmower B is 3 times as fast as Lawnmower C.
 If all three mowers are used to cut the grass, the entire job will only take 2 hours.
 How fast can Lawnmower B cut the grass?
:
let b = time required by mower b
"mower B is 3 times as fast as Lawnmower C" therefore
3b = time required by mower c
let the completed job = 1, each will do a fraction of the job, the 3 fractions add up to 1
:
A shared work equation
{{{2/4}}} + {{{2/b}}} + {{{2/(3b)}}} = 1
reduce the  1st fraction
{{{1/2}}} + {{{2/b}}} + {{{2/(3b)}}} = 1
Multiply equation by 6b, cancel the denominators and you have
3b(1) + 6(2) + 2(2) = 6b
3b + 12 + 4 = 6b
16 = 6b - 3b
16 = 3b
 b = 16/3
 b = 5{{{1/3}}} hrs time for B mower alone
:
:
Confirm this on your calc (c takes 3(5.333) which is 16 hrs)
{{{2/4}}} + {{{2/5.333}}} + {{{2/16}}} = 1
.5 + .375 + .125 = 1