The correct answer, of course, is 42.

[log in to unmask] wrote:

> X-no-Archive:yes
> Searching google for "problem paint room 3 hours 4", the first hit is
> <http://www.csun.edu/~math095/schedule/notes/mod8/rational/applicationsratio
> nalequations.html> gives an almost identical version of this problem, and
> this solution, adapted to our numbers:
>
> Use the formula Work = Rate x Time.
> The rate for the carpenter is 1/3 ( this means he can complete 1/3 of the
> job per hour).
> The rate for the apprentice is 1/4.
> The time it take them to complete the job is unknown so we'll call it "t".
> We get :
> 1/3 t + 1/4 t =1
> (Notice that they both work for the same length of time, so we can use the
> same variable t for both. And that they complete one full job so the sum of
> their work is 1)
> Next we multiply both sides by the lowest common denominator which is 15 and
> get:
> 4t + 3t = 12
> 7t = 12
> t = 12/7 = 1.714 hours or 1 hour 42 minutes and 51.42857 seconds.
>
> So, is this going to get us an honorable mention in the San Jose Mercury
> News?
>
> Greg Stigers
> http://www.cgiusa.com
> ================================
> The whole is more than the sum of its parts.
> -- [log in to unmask]
>
> * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
> * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *

--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
  John MacLerran
  IT Systems Analyst                       email:   [log in to unmask]
  Idaho State University                             V(208) 282-2954
  http://www.isu.edu/~macljohn                       F(208) 282-3673
----------------------------------------------------------------------

* To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
* etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *