Question 1188324
.
John takes 8 hours to paint his room. After working for one hour, he called a painter 
to help him. Working together, they finished the job in 3 more hours. 
How long would it take for the painter to finish the job if he had worked alone?
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<pre>
Notice that John worked, in all, 1 + 3 = 4 hours;  hence, John made half of the entire lob.


The helper made the other half of the job working 3 hours.


Hence, this helper could make the entire job in 6 hours, working alone.    <U>ANSWER</U>
</pre>

Solved.


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On joint work problems, see the lessons

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Rate-of-work-word-problems/Rate-of-work-problem.lesson>Rate of work problems</A> 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Rate-of-work-word-problems/Word-problems-WORKING-TOGETHER-by-Fractions.lesson>Using Fractions to solve word problems on joint work</A> 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Rate-of-work-word-problems/Solving-more-complicated-word-problems-on-joint-work.lesson>Solving more complicated word problems on joint work</A> 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Rate-of-work-word-problems/Using-quadr-eqns-to-solve-word-problems-on-joint-work.lesson>Using quadratic equations to solve word problems on joint work</A> 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Rate-of-work-word-problems/Solving-rate-of-work-problem-by-reducing-to-a-system-of-linear-equations.lesson>Solving rate of work problem by reducing to a system of linear equations</A> 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Rate-of-work-word-problems/Solving-joint-work-problems-by-reasoning.lesson>Solving joint work problems by reasoning</A> 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Rate-of-work-word-problems/Selected-problems-from-the-archive-on-joint-work-word-problems.lesson>Selected joint-work word problems from the archive</A> 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Rate-of-work-word-problems/Joint-work-word-problems-for-3-4-5-participants.lesson>Joint-work problems for 3 participants</A>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Rate-of-work-word-problems/HOW-TO-algebreze-and-solve-these-joint-work-problems.lesson>HOW TO algebreze and solve these joint work problems ?</A> 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Rate-of-work-word-problems/Had-the-number-of-workers-be-more-the-job-would-be-completed-sooner.lesson>Had there were more workers, the job would be completed sooner</A>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Rate-of-work-word-problems/One-unusual-joint-work-problem.lesson>One unusual joint work problem</A>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Rate-of-work-word-problems/Very-unexpected-problem-on-rate-of-work.lesson>Very unexpected problem on rate of work - HOW TO setup and HOW TO solve</A> 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Rate-of-work-word-problems/Special-joint-wok-problems-that-admit-and-require-an-alternative-solution-method.lesson>Special joint work problems that admit and require an alternative solution method</A>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Rate-of-work-word-problems/Joint-work-word-problem-for-the-day-of-April-first.lesson>Joint work word problems for the day of April, 1</A>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Rate-of-work-word-problems/OVERVIEW-of-lessons-on-rate-of-work-problems.lesson>OVERVIEW of lessons on rate-of-work problems</A> 

in this site.