Question

Bert, Burt, and Belle are professional elephant manicurists. Bert can manicure an elephant toe in 5 minutes, Burt can manicure an elephant toe in 8 minutes, and Belle can manicure an elephant toe in 5 minutes. How long, to the nearest minute, would it take the three of them working together to manicure five elephant toes? Please show me your work.

Answer 1

you posted the same time twice

Answer 2

Bert and Belle can both manicure an elephant toe in 5 minutes...are you sure that's right?

Answer 3

yeah! I am sure

Answer 4

\[\frac{1}{5}+\frac{1}{8}+\frac{1}{5} = \frac{5}{x}\]
\[\frac{2}{5}+\frac{1}{8}=\frac{5}{x} \]

Multiply both sides by x:
\[\frac{2x}{5}+\frac{x}{8} = 5\]

Change 5 into a fraction:
\[\frac{2x}{5}+\frac{x}{8} = \frac{40}{8} \]

Subtract x/8 from both sides:
\[\frac{2x}{5} = \frac{40}{8}-\frac{x}{8}\]

Simplify right side:
\[\frac{2x}{5}=\frac{40-x}{8}\]

Cross Multiply:

16x = 5(40-x)
16x = 200 - 5x
16x+5x = 200
21x = 200
x = 9.5 approximately 10

Answer 5

Thanks