Two companies working together can clear a parcel of land in 26 hours. Working alone, it would take Company A 10 hours longer to clear the land than it would Company B. How long would it take Company B to clear the parcel of land alone?
Since the 2 companies together take 26 hours to finish.
Therefore:
A+B=26
"Company A takes 10 more hours than company B)
Therefore:
B-10(hours)=A
Subsitute A with B-10 in A+B=26
We get:
(B-10)+B=26
2B-10=26
(Add 10 to both sides)
2B=36
(Divide by 2)
B=18 hours
To get A= A+18=26
Subract 18
A=8 hours
Final answer:
It would take company B 18 hours to finish alone.
It would take company A 8 hours to finish alone.
Company A = A
Company B = B
Company A's hourly rate =1 / A = 1 / [26 + 10] =1 / 36
1 / A + 1 / B = 1 / 26
1 / 36 + 1 / B = 1 / 26
1 / B = 1 / 26 - 1 / 36 [The LCM of 26 and 36 =468
1 / B = 18 / 468 - 13 / 468 =5 / 468 Company B's rate. Therefore, it would take Company B:
B =468/5 =93.6 hours to finish the job working alone! THIS IS THE CORRECT ANSWER!.
Check: 1/A + 1/B = 1/26
1/36 + 1/93.6 = 1/26
1 / 26 = 1 / 26
The second solution assumes that Company A would take 10 hours longer than the 2 Companies working together. But that is NOT what the question says. It says Co. A takes 10 hours longer than Co. B, when working alone! So the solution looks like this:
1/B + 1/(B+10) = 1/26
B =47.48 hours - for Co. B working alone to clear the land.
A =47.48 + 10 =57.48 hours - for Co. A to clear the land working alone.
So that: 1/47.48 + 1/57.48 =1/26, or 26 hours when both Companies work together.
+118608 Two companies working together can clear a parcel of land in 26 hours. Working alone, it would take Company A 10 hours longer to clear the land than it would Company B. How long would it take Company B to clear the parcel of land alone?
Thanks guests.
I struggle with these myself. I decided to have a go. I got the same as the last guest. 
Speed of A + Speed of B = speed of both together
\(speed=\frac{\text{Land to be cleared}}{time \;taken}\)
Let the land to be cleared be L
\(S_B=\frac{L}{t_B}\qquad \qquad S_A=\frac{L}{t_B+10} \qquad \qquad \\~\\ S_B+S_A=\frac{L}{26}\\ \frac{L}{t_B}+\frac{L}{t_B+10} =\frac{L}{26}\\ \frac{1}{t_B}+\frac{1}{t_B+10} =\frac{1}{26}\\ \text{It will be easier to follow if I let }Z=T_B\\ \qquad \frac{1}{Z}+\frac{1}{Z+10} =\frac{1}{26}\\ \qquad \frac{Z}{Z(Z+10)}+\frac{Z+10}{Z(Z+10)} =\frac{1}{26}\\ \qquad\frac{2Z+10}{Z(Z+10)} =\frac{1}{26}\\ \qquad 52Z+260=Z^2+10Z\\ \qquad Z^2-42Z-260=0\\ \qquad \text{Using the quadrativ euqation the answer is}\\ \qquad Z=21+\sqrt{701}\approx 47.48 \)
so On their own B will take 47.48 hours to clear the land.
Guest above has already checked this answer.
