SOLUTION: 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

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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?
Answer by fcabanski(1391) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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.


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).


To find the time when they work together, use the equation with their combined rate: 1/40 + 1/55 = 19/440


1 = 19/440 * t so t = 440/19 = 23 and 3/19 minutes or 23 minutes 9.47 seconds.

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