For simplicity's sake, let's assume a 1000 sqft room (size does not matter,
sorry ladies).  Therefore:

Person A can paint 1000sqft in 3 hours or 333.3333 sqft/hr (1000/3)
Person B can paint 1000sqft in 4 hours or 250 sqft/hr      (1000/4)

Together, they can paint 583.3333sqft/hr (333.3333 + 250)

Therefore, they will take 1.714258 hours to paint the room (1000/583.3333)
   or 1 hour, 42 minutes, and 51 seconds.

Randy Keefer



On Thu, 17 Jan 2002 14:55:14 -0500, VANCE,JEFF (HP-Cupertino,ex1)
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>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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