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For work time questions, the easiest approach is to think in terms of number of units of work.

1. # of hrs to Assemble:
Mary and Jim together = 12 hrs
Mary alone = 30 hrs
Let # number of units of work = 60 units (e.g., say 60 parts are to be assembled)
Rate of assembly for Mary and Jim together = 60/12 = 5 units / hr
Rate of assembly for Mary alone = 60/30 = 2 units / hr
=> Jim alone assembles at rate of 3 units / hr.
Therefore # of hrs it takes Jim alone to assemble = 60/3 = 20 hrs ............ (a)

2. # of hrs to paint:
Mary and Jim together = 4 hrs
Jim alone = 12 hrs
Let # number of units of work = 24 units (e.g., say 24 Litre of paint is to be sprayed)

Rate at which Mary and Jim together paint = 24/4 = 6 units / hr
Rate of assembly of Jim alone = 24/12 = 2 units / hr
=> Mary alone assembles at rate of 4 units / hr.
Therefore # of hrs it takes Mary alone to paint = 24/4 = 6 hrs ............. (b)

# of hrs taken if Jim assembles the car and Mary immediately paints = 20 + 6 = 26 hrs

Answer: A
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Assemble toys
Mary and Jim can assemble car together in 12 hrs
Let the time taken by Mary to assemble be M and Jim be J
GIVEN M = 30 hrs

1/M + 1/J = 1/12
1/30+1/J = 1/12
1/J = 1/12- 1/30 = 1/20

Jim takes 20 hrs to assemble alone at constant rate

Paint car

Mary and Jim can paint car together in 4 hrs
Let the time taken by Mary to paint car be M and Jim be J
GIVEN J = 12 hrs

1/M +1/J = 1/12
1/12+1/M = 1/4
1/M = 1/4-1/12
M = 6 hrs

Mary will take 6 hrs to paint a car alone

Total time taken when JIM assembles the car and Mary paints the car = 20+6 = 26 hrs

Answer A
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