Look at it as a RATE problem......
One job = 1
Bill's rate = 1/40 job/minutes
Sue's rate= 1/35 job/minutes
What is the RATE when they BOTH work ?
(1/40 + 1/35) job/minutes = (7+8)/120 = 15/280 Job/minutes
the TIME to complete ONE job = ONE Job / RATE so, substitute:
1 Job / (15/280 Job/Minutes) = 280/15 minutes = 18.67 minutes