document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=275821>Question 275821</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I had a question about a work word problem. It says: Jane, Paul, and Peter can finish a painting in 2 hours. Jane can paint the same painting in 5 hours. Paul can paint it alone in 6 hours. How long would it take Peter to paint it on his own?\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "the equation was 1/5+1/6+1/x=1/2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and I dont understand where they got the 1/2 from.......If you could help me with this it would be great. Thanks!!! </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #201126 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=201126\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I had a question about a work word problem. It says: Jane, Paul, and Peter can finish a painting in 2 hours. Jane can paint the same painting in 5 hours. Paul can paint it alone in 6 hours. How long would it take Peter to paint it on his own?\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "the equation was 1/5+1/6+1/x=1/2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and I dont understand where they got the 1/2 from.......If you could help me with this it would be great. Thanks!!!<BR>\n" );
document.write( "------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The key idea to solving these painting, mowing, job problems is to <BR>\n" );
document.write( "convert from time data to rate data.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----<BR>\n" );
document.write( "This is the idea:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If John takes 2 hrs/job his rate is 1/2 job/hr.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Notice that inverting the (hrs/job) you get (job/hr)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "This converts time to do a job to the rate at which the job is done.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "==============================<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So your 1/5 is a rate; your 1/6 is a rate; your 1/x is a rate<BR>\n" );
document.write( "When you add those rates you get a rate; and 1/2 is a rate.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "It is the rate associated with \"finish the job in 2 hours\".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "====================<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );