SOLUTION: Word problem: A typist has completed 1/6 of a paper. 6 hours later, the paper is 3/4 complete. Calculate the typing rate. I want to find out how much of the paper is complete

Question 88132: Word problem: A typist has completed 1/6 of a paper. 6 hours later, the paper is 3/4 complete. Calculate the typing rate.
I want to find out how much of the paper is completed each hour until it is 3/4 complete, when 1/6 is already done.
I've tried to graph this and I've tried to plug it in to pythagorean theorem and have tried the distance formula.
I've tried f(x)=1/6x=6 where x=3/4. But that's not right. I've tried my dad, and he can't figure it out.

Answer by tutor_paul(427) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Think of it this way...
The typist is at 1/6 at time zero, and gets to 3/4 at time 6hrs.
The amount completed in 6 hours is:

Re-write in terms of the LCD (12)

So now you know that the typist can complete 7/12ths of the paper in 6 hours.
You need to find out how much the typist can complete in one hour. So set up
a proportion equation, where x is the amount completed in 1 hour:

Solve for x:

So now you have x, which is the amount of the paper that the typist can complete
each hour.
Good Luck,
tutor_paul@yahoo.com