Problema Solution

A,b, and c can finish a job in 6 days. If b and c work together, the job will take 9 days; if a and c work together, the job will take 8 days. How many days will it take each man to do the job alone?

Answer provided by our tutors

Let

a = the number of days that a needs to finish the job

1/a per day = the rate of a

b = the number of days that b needs to finish the job

1/b per day = the rate of b

c = the number of days that a needs to finish the job

1/c per day = the rate of c

1/a + 1/b + 1/c = 1/6

1/b + 1/c = 1/9

1/a + 1/c = 1/8

by solving we find

1/a = 1/6 - 1/9

1/a = (3 - 2)/18

1/a = 1/18

a = 18 days

1/c = 1/8 - 1/a

1/c = 1/8 - 1/18

1/c = (9 - 4)/72

1/c = 5/72

c = 72/5

c = 14.4 days

1/b = 1/9 - 1/c

1/b = 1/9 - 5/72

1/b = (8 - 5)/72

1/b = 3/72

1/b = 1/24

b = 24 days

A needs 18 days to finish the job, b needs 24 days while c needs 14.4 days to finish the job.