Jeff - in the real world, we don't have sufficient information, and we know
it could take a lot longer with both persons that with one or the other.

If this were a school-kid's question, we'd say it is all about the rate at
which each person can paint:

person A paints at 1/3  room per hour
person B paints at 1/4  room per hour

together, they can paint at 1/3 + 1/4 = 7/12 room per hour.

we want to know how many hours per room, so it's 12 sevenths of an hour, or
1 & 5/7 hours (one and five sevenths of an hour.)

-Dave Darnell






[log in to unmask] on 01/17/2002 12:59:00 PM

To:   [log in to unmask]@Internet
cc:    (bcc: David T Darnell/CO/KAIPERM)
Subject:  [HP3000-L] OT: word problem

Hi all,

Well, here we go again with a math word problem where my answer (and
a few others' answers do) does not jive with the answer provided by a local
newspaper - the San Jose Mercury News, in this case.

I appeal to the intelligence of this group to vindicate me or
show me where I went wrong.

Q: Person A can paint a room in 3 hours.  Person B can paint the
same size room in 4 hours.  How long will it take for A and B to
paint the room together?


I will forward my solution after a few of you have a crack at this
very simple problem!

regards,
 Jeff

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