Alan takes 5 days less than Pete to do a project if they work on the project alone. If they are working together, the project would be completed 4 days earlier than Alan working alone. How long would each take to work on the job alone?
+36915 Pete = x
Alan rate = x-5
together rate x -5 -4 = x-9
1/x + 1/(x-5) = 1/(x-9) solve for x pete's rate
x-5 + x = (x-5)(x)/(x-9)
(2x-5)(x-9) = x^2-5x
2x^2 -18x- 5x+45-x^2+5x = 0
x^2 -18x +45 = 0 x = 15 days alan 10 days together 6 days
