document.write( "Question 292091: It takes Sal 5 hours to paint a house. It takes Tom 3 hours to paint the same house. How long will it take to paint the house if both of them work together? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #211088 by Alan3354(69443)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! It takes Sal 5 hours to paint a house. It takes Tom 3 hours to paint the same house. How long will it take to paint the house if both of them work together? \n" ); document.write( "---------------------- \n" ); document.write( "If you add the hours, it's 8 hours. Doesn't seem right, unless they drink a lot of beer and watch TV. \n" ); document.write( "--------------------------- \n" ); document.write( "Use the reciprocals, then you can add them. \n" ); document.write( "Sal does 1/5 of the house per hour. \n" ); document.write( "Tom does 1/3 per hour. \n" ); document.write( "Together, they do 1/5 + 1/3 per hour = 8/15 \n" ); document.write( "8/15 house per hour --> 15/8 hours per house. \n" ); document.write( "15/8 is it, or 1.875 hours. \n" ); document.write( "-------------------------- \n" ); document.write( "There's a shortcut, product/sum \n" ); document.write( "3*5/(3+5) = 15/8 \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |