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)\"\" \"About 
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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?
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\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.
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\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.
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\n" ); document.write( "There's a shortcut, product/sum
\n" ); document.write( "3*5/(3+5) = 15/8
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