Jeff takes 5 hour longer to build a fence than it takes bill. when they work together, it takes them 6 hours. how long would it take bill to do the job alone

Best Answer: Bill's time to do the whole job, B

Jeff's time, B + 5

time they actually work, 6.

6/B + 6 / (B+5) = 1

6 (B+5) + 6B = B (B+5)

6B + 30 + 6B = B² + 5B

B² - 7B - 30 = 0

(B - 10) (B + 3) = 0

B = 10 or B = - 3, and we reject the negative solution.

the equation is based on adding the fractions of the whole job each does. if Bill takes B hours to do the whole thing and works 6, he does 6/B of the job. similarly for Jeff.

in the 2nd problem,

a = time of experienced accountant

2a = time of new accountant

10 = time each actually works

10/a + 10 / (2a) = 1 ... multiply all by a

10 + 5 = a

a = 15 hr.