SOLUTION: trent can deliver his newspapers in 30 minutes. it takes lois 20 minutes to do the same route. how long would it take them to deliver the newspapers if they worked together?

Question 219728: trent can deliver his newspapers in 30 minutes. it takes lois 20 minutes to do the same route. how long would it take them to deliver the newspapers if they worked together?
Answer by ptaylor(2198) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x=amount of time it takes both working together to complete the newspaper route
Then, together, they work at the rate of 1/x of the newspaper route per min
Trent works at the rate of 1/30 of his newspaper route per min
Lois works ar the rate of 1/20 of the route per min
So, our equation to solve is:
1/30 + 1/20= 1/x multiply each term by 60x
2x +3x=60
5x=60
x=12 min-----amount of time it takes both working together to complete the newspaper route
CK
In 12 min Trent completes (1/30)*12 =12/30=2/5 of his route
In 12 min Lois completes (1/20)*12=12/20=3/5 of the route
2/5 + 3/5=5/5
1=1 (newspaper route, that is)
Hope this helps---ptaylor

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