He could make seven 3/8lbs portions of meat.
I was a little stumped too, but I think this is it. That's my work process, though
Answer:
Bobby around 131 minutes and Billy around 111 minutes
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve the problem it is important to raise equations regarding what happens.
They tell us that Billy (Bi) and Bobby (Bo) can mow the lawn in 60 minutes. That is to say that what they prune in a minute is giving as follows:
1 / Bo + 1 / Bi = 1/60 (1)
They say Billy could mow the lawn only in 20 minutes less than it would take Bobby, therefore
1 / Bi = 1 / (Bo-20) (2)
Replacing (2) in (1) we have:
1 / Bo + 1 / (Bo-20) = 1/60
Resolving
(Bo - 20 + B0) / (Bo * (Bo-20) = 1/60
120 * Bo - 1200 = Bo ^ 2 - 20Bo
Rearranging:
Bo ^ 2 - 140Bo -1200 = 0
Now applying the general equation
Bo = 130.82 or Bo = 9.17, <em>this last value cannot be because Billy took 20 minutes less and neither can he prune faster than the two together</em>, therefore Bobby only takes around 131 minutes and Billy around 111 minutes
Checking with equation 1:
1/131 +1/111 = ~ 1/60
The 2nd choice down in correct.
