document.write( "Question 512436: An experienced painter can paint a fence twice as fast as an inexperienced painter. Working together, they can paint the fence in 4 hours. How long would it take the experienced painter to paint it by himself? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #342656 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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In words:
\n" ); document.write( "The rate of the 2 painters together is:
\n" ); document.write( "( 1 fence ) / ( 4 hrs )
\n" ); document.write( "Let $\"+t+\"$ = the time for the experienced painter
\n" ); document.write( "to paint 1 fence, so his rate is:
\n" ); document.write( "( 1 fence ) / ( t hrs )
\n" ); document.write( "The inexperienced painter will take twice as long:
\n" ); document.write( "( 1 fence ) / ( 2t ) hrs
\n" ); document.write( "-----------------
\n" ); document.write( "I can add their rates of painting to get the rate
\n" ); document.write( "when they work together
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+1%2Ft+%2B+1%2F%282t%29+=+1%2F4+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides by $\"+4t+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+4+%2B+2+=+t+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+t+=+6+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "The experienced painter takes
\n" ); document.write( "6 hrs to paint the fence alone \n" ); document.write( "

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