SOLUTION: A painter can paint a kitchen in 4 hours. An apprentice can paint the same kitchen in 12 hours. If they worked together, how long would it take them to paint the kitchen?

Question 774934: A painter can paint a kitchen in 4 hours. An apprentice can paint the same kitchen in 12 hours. If they worked together, how long would it take them to paint the kitchen?

Answer by ptaylor(2198) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x=amount of time it takes them working together to paint the kitchen
Then together, they paint at the rate of 1/x kitchen per hour
Painter works at the rate of 1/4 kitchen per hour
Apprentice works at the rate of 1/12 kitchen per hour
Sooooo
1/4+1/12=1/x multiply each term by 12x
3x+x=12
4x=12
x=3 hrs---time it takes both working together to pain the kitchen
CK
In 3 hours the Painter paints (1/4)*3=3/4 of the kitchen
In 3 hours the Apprentice paints (1/12)*3=3/12=1/4 of the kitchen
1/4+3/4=the kitchen:)
Hope this helps----ptaylor
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