The Work Problem

Strategies and Hints

  1. Letters will vary. One possibility is shown.

  1. Using the letters above, students should write these two proportions:


  1. But = 1, so = 1.
    Dividing both sides of the last equation by z gives the equation .

    2.  

Solution

For the work problem, the first person does of the work in an hour. The second person does of the work. So, the fraction accomplished by both working together in one hour is .