SOLUTION: 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?

Algebra ->  Rate-of-work-word-problems -> SOLUTION: 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?      Log On


   



Question 1042097: 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?
Found 2 solutions by solver91311, stanbon:
Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!




Solve for

John

My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it


Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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?
-----
Melanie rate:: 1/4 job/hr
Jessica rate:: 1/5 job/hr
Together rate: 1/x job/hr
----------------------
Equation:
rate + rate = together rate
1/4 + 1/5 = 1/x
5x + 4x = 5*4
------
9x = 20
x = 20/9 = 2 2/9 hrs = 2hr 13 min 20sec (time to do the job together)
-----------------------
Cheers,
Stan H.
-----------