Carl can paint a room 3 hours faster than Jennifer can

If they work together, they can complete the job in 2 hours

Using complete sentences, explain each step in figuring out how to determine the time it would take Jennifer to complete this job on her own.

Verified Answer :

Jen take x hours.
Carl (x-3)hours.
Jen+carl take two hours;
This means;
In 1 hour, for they work
\(\frac{1}{x} + \frac{1}{x-3}\)
=\(\frac{(x-3)+x}{x(x-3)}\)
=\(\frac{2x-3}{x(x-3)}\)
Working together, they take two hours;
Take reciprocal of above equation and equate to two;
=\(\frac{x(x-3)}{2x-3} =2\)
\(x^{2}\)-3x=4x-6
\(x^{2} -7x+6=0\)
\(x^{2}\)-x-6x+6=0
x(x-1)-6(x-1)=0
(x-6)(x-1)=0
Take the bracket x-6=0 so that Carl works positive hours
x-6=0
x=6