<PRE><B>Question 143464</B>
Suma can paint a room in ten hours. Bill can paint the same size room in eight hours. How long would it take if they paint the room together.
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Suma DATA:
Time = 10 hrs/job ; rate = 1/10 job/hr.
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Bill DATA:
Time = 8 hrs/job ; rate = 1/8 job/hr.
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Together DATA:
Time = x hrs/job ; rate = 1/x job/hr
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EQUATION:
rate + rate = together rate
1/10 + 1/8 = 1/x 
18/80 = 1/x
x = 80/18
x = 4.44 hours (time to paint the house together)
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Cheers,
Stan H.</PRE>