SOLUTION: BARN PAINTING: melanie can paint a certain barn by herself in x days. her helper melissa can paint the same barn by herself in 2x days. write a rational expression for the fraction

Algebra ->  Rate-of-work-word-problems -> SOLUTION: BARN PAINTING: melanie can paint a certain barn by herself in x days. her helper melissa can paint the same barn by herself in 2x days. write a rational expression for the fraction      Log On


   

Question 170437: BARN PAINTING: melanie can paint a certain barn by herself in x days. her helper melissa can paint the same barn by herself in 2x days. write a rational expression for the fraction of the barn that they complete in one day by working together. evaluate the expression for x=5. thank you!
Answer by Mathtut(3670) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
so if melanie can paint the barn in x days and Melissa can do it in 2x days then the portion melanie does per day is (1/x) and the portion Melissa does per day is (1/2x)
together they can paint the barn in (t/x)+(t/2x)=1job.....that is the rational expression for the fraction of the barn they can complete in 1day.
if x=5days then 2x=10days...together they can paint the barn in
:
(t/5)+(t/10)=1----> multiply terms by 10--->2t+1t=10--->3t=10
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highlight%28t=10%2F3%29days for both to paint the barn if x=5