You and a friend work at an orange orchard. It takes you 40 minutes to pick all of the oranges from the tree. It takes your friend 60 minutes to complete the same job. How long will it take to pick all of the oranges from an orange tree if you work together?

Question

You and a friend work at an orange orchard. It takes you 40 minutes to pick all of the oranges from the tree. It takes your friend 60 minutes to complete the same job. How long will it take to pick all of the oranges from an orange tree if you work together? 
I think it is 50 minutes, because in the middle of 40 and 60 is 50. But I'm not sure if that is correct. And I also don't know how to solve the problem. 
                             Thank You!        ~KyraXxx

bobpursley · Answer

ratecombined=rate1+rate2 ratecombined=all/40min+all/60 min = (60all+40all)/2400=100*all/2400 = all/24 so together, all can be picked in 24 minutes.