Question

Steve can paint a room three times as fast as Billy. When they work together, Steve and Billy can paint a large room in 4 hours. How many hours would it take Billy to paint it by himself?

Answer 1

@ash2326 @welshfella @mukushla

Answer 2

a. 16/3
b. 3/16
c. 3
d. 16

Answer 3

you need to use rate * time = 1 room
rate is rooms/hour
say billy works at rate "x"
steve is 3 times faster, or 3x

Answer 4

when they work together you can say
the combined rate is x+3x
and
(x+3x)* 4 hours = 1 room
4x*4= 1
16x=1
x = 1/16
that is how fast billy works

Answer 5

So 3/16 ?

Answer 6

now use rate * time = 1
with rate = 1/16
to find the time

Answer 7

they asked for How many hours would it take Billy to paint it by himself?
(not the rate of steve... rate of steve is 3/16 (three times faster than bill))

Answer 8

@phi So it woulf be 16/3