SOLUTION: a paper needs to be printed. one printer can print the paper in 50 minutes and another printer can print the paper in 40 minutes. how long would it take if both printers were used?

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Question 926705: a paper needs to be printed. one printer can print the paper in 50 minutes and another printer can print the paper in 40 minutes. how long would it take if both printers were used?
i tried setting it up like this: 1/40+1/50=x
I do not think this is the right setup though.
Found 2 solutions by TimothyLamb, MathTherapy:
Answer by TimothyLamb(4379)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
rate = w/t
rates are additive:
1/50 + 1/40 = 0.045 papers/minute
---
t = w/rate
---
t = 1 paper / 0.045 papers/minute
t = 22.22 minutes
---
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Answer by MathTherapy(10552)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

a paper needs to be printed. one printer can print the paper in 50 minutes and another printer can print the paper in 40 minutes. how long would it take if both printers were used?
i tried setting it up like this: 1/40+1/50=x
I do not think this is the right setup though.


You didn't set it up correctly. Instead of , it should be: .

You failed to put the RECIPROCAL of the time taken by both to do the job. So, you were ALMOST correct, but not quite!! 

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