Question 90003

Painter #1 = x/12
Painter #2 = x/8
Total job = 1 job
.
x/12 + x/8 = 1  [simplify]
(24)(x/12 + x/8 = 1)  [multiply through by a common denominator to clear the fractions]
.
2x+3x=24  [solve for the x-term]
5x=24
x=24/5
x=4.8 hours

.
Check by plugging (x=4.8) back into the original equation.