Final answer:
To find the time needed to complete a task working together, you add the rates of work. You complete 3/10 of the task per hour and your friend completes 1/5 per hour. Together, you will complete the task in 2 hours.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine how long it will take to complete the task if you and your friend work together, we need to add your work rates:
- You can complete three-tenths of a task in an hour.
- Your friend can complete one-fifth of the same task in an hour.
The sum of these rates will tell us how much of the task can be completed in one hour working together. Thus:
Your rate: 3/10 task/hour
Friend's rate: 1/5 task/hour
Total rate when working together:
(3/10) + (1/5) = (3/10) + (2/10) = 5/10 = 1/2 task/hour
Since you both can complete half a task in one hour, it will take you 2 hours to complete the entire task working together.