SOLUTION: Helena can paint a hallway in 5 days and Damian can paint a hallway in 8 days.If they do the job together how long will it take to finish the job?

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Question 375587: Helena can paint a hallway in 5 days and Damian can paint a hallway in 8 days.If they do the job together how long will it take to finish the job?
Found 2 solutions by robertb, mananth:
Answer by robertb(5830) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x%281%2F5+%2B+1%2F8%29+=+1, or
x%280.2%2B0.125%29+=+1, or
0.325x = 1, or x = 40/13 = 3.08 days.

Answer by mananth(16949) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
helena can paint in 5 days
helena can do 1/5 of thejob in 1 day.
damian in 8 days
damian can do 1/8 of the job in 1 day.
..
both together can do 1/5 +1/8 of the job in 1 day.
1/8 +1/5 = (8+5)/40
=13/40 of the job in 1 day
..
so they will take 40/13 days to complete the job
=3.07 days.
...
m.ananth@hotmail.ca