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Jenny and Penny can eat a whole gallon of ice cream together in 2 hours. Penny and Lenny can eat a whole gallon of ice cream together in 1  2/3 hours. All three together can eat a whole gallon of ice cream together in 1 hour. How many hours would it take Jenny to eat a whole gallon of ice cream all by herself?

For a question like this, it is essential that you explain carefully to your reader what any variable that you introduce represents.

 Aug 11, 2015

Best Answer 

 #1
avatar+129852 
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Call the amoiunt Jenny can eat in one hr, x, the amount Penny can eat in one hour, y and the amount Lenny can eat in one hour = z.....so we have

 

1x +1 y + 1z  = 1

 

2x + 2y = 1  →    2y = 1 - 2x  →  y = [1 -2x] / 2     (a)

 

(5/3)x + (5/3)z = 1    →   (5/3)z = 1 - (5/3)x   →  z  =   (3/5)  - x      (b)

 

And substituting  (a) and (b) into the first equation, we have       

 

1x + [1 -2x] /2 +  (3/5) - x  = 1      simplify

 

{1 - 2x] / 2 +  (3/5) = 1     subtract 3/5 from both sides

 

[1 - 2x] / 2   = 2/5       multiply both sides by 2

 

1 - 2x =  4/5 

 

2x  = 1 - 4/5   

 

2x = 1/5      divide by 2 on both sides

 

x = 1/10    [of a gallon]     this is the amount that Jenny eats in one hour

 

So...just invert this...and it takes Jenny 10 hrs. to eat one gallon by herself......she's a pretty slow eater!!!!

 

 

 

  

 Aug 11, 2015
 #1
avatar+129852 
+10
Best Answer

Call the amoiunt Jenny can eat in one hr, x, the amount Penny can eat in one hour, y and the amount Lenny can eat in one hour = z.....so we have

 

1x +1 y + 1z  = 1

 

2x + 2y = 1  →    2y = 1 - 2x  →  y = [1 -2x] / 2     (a)

 

(5/3)x + (5/3)z = 1    →   (5/3)z = 1 - (5/3)x   →  z  =   (3/5)  - x      (b)

 

And substituting  (a) and (b) into the first equation, we have       

 

1x + [1 -2x] /2 +  (3/5) - x  = 1      simplify

 

{1 - 2x] / 2 +  (3/5) = 1     subtract 3/5 from both sides

 

[1 - 2x] / 2   = 2/5       multiply both sides by 2

 

1 - 2x =  4/5 

 

2x  = 1 - 4/5   

 

2x = 1/5      divide by 2 on both sides

 

x = 1/10    [of a gallon]     this is the amount that Jenny eats in one hour

 

So...just invert this...and it takes Jenny 10 hrs. to eat one gallon by herself......she's a pretty slow eater!!!!

 

 

 

  

CPhill Aug 11, 2015

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