document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=260237>Question 260237</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Intermediate and Elementary Algebra 3rd Edition<BR>\n" );
document.write( "ISBN: 9780073533490\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "6.4 Exercise: 90\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Melanie can paint a certain barn by herself in X days.  Her helper Melissa can paint the same barn by herself in 2x days. Write a rational expression for the fraction of the barn that they complete in one day by working together.  Evaluate the expression for x – 5. <BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #191668 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=191668\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Melanie can paint a certain barn by herself in X days. Her helper Melissa can paint the same barn by herself in 2x days. Write a rational expression for the fraction of the barn that they complete in one day by working together. Evaluate the expression for x = 5. <BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Melanie DATA:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "time = X days/job ; rate = 1/X job/day<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Melissa DATA:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "time = 2X days/job ; rate = 1/2x job/day<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Together DATA:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "time = k days/job ; rate = 1/k job/day<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Equation:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "rate + rate = together rate<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1/x + 1/2x = 1/k<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2x+x)/2x^2 = 1/k<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "k = 2x^2/(3x)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "k = (2/3)x (# of days it takes for them to do the job working together)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If x = 5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "# of days = (2/3)5 = 10/3 = 3 1/3 days<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H.  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );