document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=868943>Question 868943</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Two bricklayers, Sam and Joe, are working on your house. Sam can complete the work in 5 hours, while Joe can complete the work in 3 hours. How many hours does the bricklaying take if they work together? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #523920 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=523920\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Sam can complete the work in 5 hours, while Joe can complete the work in 3 hours. How many hours does the bricklaying take if they work together?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "--------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Sam rate = 1/5 job/hr<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Joe rate = 1/3 job/hr<BR>\n" );
document.write( "together rate = 1/x job/hr<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-------------------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Equation:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "rate + rate = together rate<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1/5 + 1/3 = 1/x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3x + 5x = 15<BR>\n" );
document.write( "8x = 15<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 15/8 = 1 7/8 hrs (time to do the job together)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "==================<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );