# Two people are tiling a floor at the same time.

• April 19th 2012, 04:18 PM
IcyShark
Two people are tiling a floor at the same time.
Alex can tile a floor in 45 hours. Chandra can tile the same floor in 36 hours. How long will it take them to tile the floor if they work together? Be very descriptive and please help me. I think there could be an equation for this, and give me a link if you know any that help with these types of problems.
• April 19th 2012, 04:33 PM
skeeter
Re: Two people are tiling a floor at the same time.
Quote:

Originally Posted by IcyShark
Alex can tile a floor in 45 hours. Chandra can tile the same floor in 36 hours. How long will it take them to tile the floor if they work together? Be very descriptive and please help me. I think there could be an equation for this, and give me a link if you know any that help with these types of problems.

alex's rate of work = $\frac{1 \, floor}{45\, hrs}$

chan's rate of work = $\frac{1 \, floor}{36\, hrs}$

rate of work together = $\frac{1 \, floor}{45\, hrs} + \frac{1 \, floor}{36\, hrs}$

(rate of work together)(time together in hours) = 1 floor tiled
• April 19th 2012, 04:39 PM
IcyShark
Re: Two people are tiling a floor at the same time.
Okay, thanks, how do you make the thing solved? I'm new to this site.
• April 19th 2012, 04:46 PM
IcyShark
Re: Two people are tiling a floor at the same time.
Oh, wait, I still don't get it, how do you solve it and what's the answer?
• April 19th 2012, 04:49 PM
IcyShark
Re: Two people are tiling a floor at the same time.
The answer is .05, but .05 what?
• April 19th 2012, 05:44 PM
Wilmer
Re: Two people are tiling a floor at the same time.
1/45 + 1/36 = 1/20 : so in 1 hour together, they complete 1/20 of the job. Capish?
• April 19th 2012, 06:23 PM
HallsofIvy
Re: Two people are tiling a floor at the same time.
Quote:

Originally Posted by IcyShark
The answer is .05, but .05 what?

Have you forgotten what the question was?
• April 20th 2012, 01:13 AM
valentine
Re: Two people are tiling a floor at the same time.
The ans is 20hrs.....u take the fraction each person does at 1 hr which is 1/45 & 1/36.u add them up 2 get the fraction of both in 1 hr.1/45+1/36=1/20......then u take the reciprocal n u get 20hrs
• April 20th 2012, 01:43 AM
Wilmer
Re: Two people are tiling a floor at the same time.
Quote:

Originally Posted by valentine
....then u take the reciprocal n u get 20hrs

What does n u mean?