Question

It takes Franklin 14 hours to make a 200-square-foot cement patio. It takes Scott 10 hours to make the same size patio. Which equation can be used to find x, the number of hours it would take Franklin and Scott to make the patio together?

it needs to be an equation.

Answer 1

It takes Franklin 14 hours to make a 200-square-foot cement patio thus his rate is 1/14 patios per hour

It takes Scott 10 hours to make the same size patio thus his rate is 1/10 patios per hour

let x = the hours they need to make the patio together

the together rate is 1/x patios per hour

now we have 

1/14 + 1/10 = 1/x ( equation )

by solving we find:

x = 35/6 hr

x = 5 5/6 hr

x = 5 hr (5/6)*60 min

x = 5 hr 50 min

Franklin and Scott will need 5 hours and 50 minutes to make the patio together.