Example

Solving a Work Application: Weeding a Garden

Apply the problem-solving strategy for work applications to find the time needed for two people to weed a garden together. If Daria takes 7 hours alone and her mother takes 3 hours alone, let tt be the hours needed together. Their hourly rates are 17\frac{1}{7} and 13\frac{1}{3}, respectively, and their combined hourly rate is 1t\frac{1}{t}.

The rational equation is: 17+13=1t\frac{1}{7} + \frac{1}{3} = \frac{1}{t}

Multiply both sides by the LCD, 21t21t: 21t(17+13)=21t(1t)21t \left(\frac{1}{7} + \frac{1}{3}\right) = 21t \left(\frac{1}{t}\right)

Distribute and simplify: 3t+7t=213t + 7t = 21 10t=2110t = 21 t=2110t = \frac{21}{10}

Converting to a mixed number gives 21102 \frac{1}{10} hours. Since 110\frac{1}{10} of an hour is 6 minutes, it will take them 2 hours and 6 minutes working together.

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Updated 2026-06-29

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Ch.7 Rational Expressions and Functions - Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

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