If Sam can do a job in 4 days that Lisa can do in 6 days and Tom can do in 2 days, how long would the job take

Answer 1

It will take Sam 4 days, Lisa 6 days and Tom 2 days!!

Your question os one of those math word problems that do not give enough information for one conclusive answer. It needs to ask how long the job would take if (x) were to do the job...Or if Lisa does a job in 6 days and Tom does it in 2 does and Sam is able to complete it in a median time frame, how many days would it take Sam to complete it? 6+2/2=4 There isn't enough info, so based on what you gave the job takes as long as which ever person is doing it!!

Answer 2

I'm guessing the question is actually "How long would the job take if Sam, Lisa and Tom joined forces to do the job together?"

The rate at which each works can be written as:
Rsam: 1 job/4days
Rlisa: 1 job/6days
Rtom: 1 job/2days

Let x equal the number of days required if all of them worked together.

(Rsam)(x)+(Rlisa)(x)+(Rtom)(x) = 1

(1 job/4 days)(x days) + (1 job/6 days)(x days) + (1 job/2 days)(x days) = 1 job

or:

(1/4)x+(1/6)x+(1/2)x = 1

x = 1/(1/4+1/6+1/2)

x = 1/(6/24+4/24+12/24)

x = 1/(22/24)

x = 24/22 = 12/11 = 1.09 days

Answer 3

More than likely,

The question is assuming that all three people are going to be working on the job and starting at the same time. It is just a rate algebra problem. You would simply add up the rates to get the work rate done for the project. Using the lowest common denominator:

3/12 of a job/day + 2/12 job/day + 6/12 job/day = 11/12 job/day

So working together it would take them 12/11 day to do one job.

Answer 4

I think you left the end off the question. Shouldn't there be more to this?
If not, then: 4 days if Sam does it, 6 days if Lisa does it, and 2 if Tom does it.
It's obviously an algebra question, so read the problem once more and edit your question so that there is something to figure out with algebra.

Answer 5

Okay. I'm going to assume you meant how long would it take for them to complete it if they worked together. If not, tough cookies!

Here's how much of the job each can complete in one day, working alone:
Sam - 1/4
Lisa - 1/6
Tom - 1/2

Now, assume x = the time it would take to complete the job if they worked together. Multiply that by each of their individual completion in 1 day and add.

x/4 + x/6 + x/2 = ?

Now, since you want the job fully completed (I assume because you didn't specify! Tsk tsk!), make the entire thing equal 1.

x/4 + x/6 + x/2 = 1

Now, in order to add fractions, you must have a common denominator. All of these denominators divide evenly into 12, so multiply the ENTIRE equation by 12.

12(x/4 + x/6 + x/2 = 1)

Distribute.

12x/4 + 12x/6 + 12x/2 = 12

Simplify.

3x + 2x + 6x = 12

Combine like terms.

11x = 12
x = 12/11 hours
x = 1 and 1/11 hours = about 1.09 hours = about 1 hour, 5.45 min

There. Hope I helped. If you meant something else, just change the part of my work to fit your needs. I hope this helps you do these problems on your own later.

Answer 6

depends on who does it =)

Answer 7

not a complete question!

Answer 8

incomplete question

Answer 9

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