document.write( "Question 739723: It takes a groundskeeper 40 minutes to prepare a Little League baseball field for a game. It takes his assistant 55 minutes to prepare the same field. How long will it take if they work together to prepare the field? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #451273 by fcabanski(1391) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Remember distance problems? The formula is Distance = rate x time. Work problems have a similar formula: Work = rate x time. Work is often 1 as in 1 complete job.

\n" ); document.write( "The groundskeeper's rate is 1=r*40 so r = 1/40 of the job per minute. The assistant works at a rate of 1/55 of the job per minute (1 = r*55 so r=1/55).

\n" ); document.write( "To find the time when they work together, use the equation with their combined rate: 1/40 + 1/55 = 19/440

\n" ); document.write( "1 = 19/440 * t so t = 440/19 = 23 and 3/19 minutes or 23 minutes 9.47 seconds.
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Hope the solution helped. Sometimes you need more than a solution. Contact fcabanski@hotmail.com for online, private tutoring, or personalized problem solving (quick for groups of problems.) \n" ); document.write( "

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