Question 1012073
Mr. Poly Nomial takes 8 hours to paint his room. After working for one hour, he called in a painter to help him. Working together they finished the job in 3 more hours. How long would it take the painter to finish the whole job if he had worked alone? 
------
Mr. Poly completes 1/8 of the job in one hour.
------------------
Mr. Poly rate is 1/8 job/hr
Helper's rate is 1/x job/hr
-------
Together their rate is (1/8 + 1/x) job/hr
------
1/8 + 1/x = (7/8)/3 job/hr
-----
1/8 + 1/x = (7/24) job/hr
----
24x + 8*24 = 7*8*x
32x = 8*24
---
x = 6 hr (time for the painter to do the job alone)
----------
Cheers,
Stan H.
-------------