Question

Orang has worked as a nurse at Springfield general hospital for 5 years longer than her friend Bill. Two years ago she had been at the hospital for twice as long. How long has each been at the hospital?

Answer 1

• Bill = 3 years

,

• Hoang = 8 years.

Explanation:

Let the time Bill had worked in the hospital = b years.

Hoang has worked for 5 years longer than her friend Bill, therefore:

• The time ,Hoang, had worked in the hospital = (b+5) years.

Two years ago:

• Bill's Time = (b-2) years

,

• Hoang's Time = (b+5-2) years

Two years ago she had been at the hospital for twice as long as Bill.

`\implies b+5-2=2b`

Solve the equation for b:

`\begin{gathered} b+5-2=2b \\ b+3=2b \\ 2b-b=3 \\ b=3 \end{gathered}`

Hoang has been at the hospital for 8 years and Bill has been there 3 years.