SOLUTION: Two bricklayers, Sam and Joe, are working on your house. Sam can complete the work in 5 hours, while Joe can complete the work in 3 hours. How many hours does the bricklaying take

Algebra ->  Rate-of-work-word-problems -> SOLUTION: Two bricklayers, Sam and Joe, are working on your house. Sam can complete the work in 5 hours, while Joe can complete the work in 3 hours. How many hours does the bricklaying take       Log On


   

Question 868943: Two bricklayers, Sam and Joe, are working on your house. Sam can complete the work in 5 hours, while Joe can complete the work in 3 hours. How many hours does the bricklaying take if they work together?
Found 2 solutions by stanbon, checkley79:
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Sam can complete the work in 5 hours, while Joe can complete the work in 3 hours. How many hours does the bricklaying take if they work together?
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Sam rate = 1/5 job/hr
Joe rate = 1/3 job/hr
together rate = 1/x job/hr
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Equation:
rate + rate = together rate
1/5 + 1/3 = 1/x
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3x + 5x = 15
8x = 15
x = 15/8 = 1 7/8 hrs (time to do the job together)
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Cheers,
Stan H.

Answer by checkley79(3341) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
1/5+1/3=1/x
(3+5)/3*5=1/x
8/15=1/x
8x=15
x=15/8
x=1.875 hours ans.