Jonathan can type a 20 page document in 40 minutes, Susan can type it in 30 minutes, and Jack can type it in 24 minutes. Working together, how much time will it take them to type the same document?

Answer 1

Here is a similar problem that will guide you in the solution of your version.

It takes Al 5 hours to paint a shed, Ben 10 hours and Charlie 15 hours. How long would it take all three to paint the shed working together?

1--A can paint the shed in 5 hours.
2--B can paint the shed in 10 hours.
3--C can paint the shed in 15 hours.
4--A's rate of painting is 1 shed per A hours (5 hours) or 1/A (1/5) shed/hour.
5--B's rate of painting is 1 shed per B hours (10 hours) or 1/B (1/10) shed/hour.
6--C's rate of painting is 1 shed per C hours (15 hours) or 1/C (1/15 shed/hour.
7--Their combined rate of painting is therefore 1/A + 1/B + 1/C = (AC + BC + AB)/ABC = (1/5 + 1/10 + 1/15) = (11/30 sheds /hour.
8--Therefore, the time required for all of them to paint the 1 shed working together is 1 shed/(AC+BC+AB)/ABC sheds/hour = ABC/(AC+BC+AB) = 5(10)15/[5(15)+10(15)+5(10) = 30/11 hours = 2.7272 hours = 2hr-43min-38.18sec.

Note - The time required to complete a single "specific task" by three individuals working together, who can complete the task individually in A, B, and C units of time is ABC/(AC + BC + AB).