Bob can do a job in 5 hours while Bill can do the same job in 8. How many hours would it take them, working together, to do this job? Thanks!!!

Mathematics · Middle School · Thu Feb 04 2021

Answered on

Given : 

Bob can do a job in 5 hours, so Bob's rate = 1/5 job per hour

Bill can do a job in 8 hours, so Bill's rate = 1/8 job per hour.

Let x be the total work.

 

So, according to question equation will be

1/5 + 1/8 = 1/x

Taking L.C.M.

(8 +  5)/40 = 1/x

13/40 =1/x 

Cross - Multiplying, we get

13x = 40

Dividing both sides by 13, we get

13x/13 = 40/13

x = 3 1/13 hours or 3 hours 5 mins ( approx.)