Answer:
x=3 15/16 hours together
Explanation:
the painter paints 1/7 of the house in 1 hour
the assistant paints 1/9 of the house in 1 hour
x=# of hours it takes them together to paint the house
(1/7)x+(1/9)x=1 (job finished)
multiply both sides by the LCM which is 63
63(1/7)x+63(1/9)x=63(1)
9x+7x=63
16x=63
x=63/16
x=3 15/16 hours together