document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=742664>Question 742664</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Initially two painters are available to paint a picket fence. Peter alone could paint the fence in 6 hours; Pat alone in 3 hours. It is decided that they will work simultaneously to paint the fence. Before they start, however, along comes Mary, who alone could paint the fence in 8 hours.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Your task is to determine exactly how many minutes could be saved if all 3 painters work together on the fence, as compared to only Peter and Paul doing the job in tandem. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Determine how many additional minutes would be saved (beyond those found above) if Mary were able to paint the fence alone in 6 hours instead of 8 hours? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #452616 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=452616\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Initially two painters are available to paint a picket fence. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Peter alone could paint the fence in 6 hours; <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Paul alone in 3 hours.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Equation: 1/6 + 1/3 = 1/x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x + 2x = 6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3x = 6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 2 hrs (Time for Peter and Paul to do the job together)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "It is decided that they will work simultaneously to paint the fence. Before they start, however, along comes Mary, who alone could paint the fence in 8 hours.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----------------------------- <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Your task is to determine exactly how many minutes could be saved if all 3 painters work together on the fence, as compared to only Peter and Paul doing the job in tandem.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1/6 + 1/3 + 1/8 = 1/x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4x + 8x + 3x = 24<BR>\n" );
document.write( "15x = 24<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 8/5 hrs (time for all three to do the job alone)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Time saved: 2-(8/5) = (10/5)-(8/5) = 2/5 hrs = 24 minutes<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Determine how many additional minutes would be saved (beyond those found above) if Mary were able to paint the fence alone in 6 hours instead of 8 hours?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Comment: I'll leave that to you.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H.<BR>\n" );
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