document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1042097>Question 1042097</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Melanie takes four hours to wash a boat. It takes Jessica five hours to finish this job. How long would it take if they worked together? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #657024 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=657024\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\">  Melanie takes four hours to wash a boat. It takes Jessica five hours to finish this job. How long would it take if they worked together? <BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Melanie rate:: 1/4 job/hr<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Jessica rate:: 1/5 job/hr<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Together rate: 1/x job/hr<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Equation:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "rate + rate = together rate<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1/4 + 1/5 = 1/x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5x + 4x = 5*4<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "9x = 20<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 20/9 = 2 2/9 hrs  = 2hr 13 min 20sec (time to do the job together)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );