Question

A painter takes 2 3/5 hours to paint a wall. How many hours will the painter take to paint 8 walls if she works at the same rate?

Answer 1

2 3/5 X 8 = 20.8 hours

Answer 2

`20(4)/(5)` hours.

Explanation:

We have been given that a painter takes 2 3/5 hours to paint a wall. We are asked to find the time taken by painter to paint 8 walls.

To find time taken by painter to paint 8 walls, we will multiply time taken to paint one wall by 8 as:

`\text{Time taken to paint 8 walls}=8* 2(3)/(5)`

First of all, we will convert our given mixed fraction into improper fraction as shown below:

`2(3)/(5)=(2* 5+3)/(5)=(10+3)/(5)=(13)/(5)`

`\text{Time taken to paint 8 walls}=8* (13)/(5)`

`\text{Time taken to paint 8 walls}=(8* 13)/(5)`

`\text{Time taken to paint 8 walls}=(104)/(5)`

`\text{Time taken to paint 8 walls}=(20* 5+4)/(5)`

`\text{Time taken to paint 8 walls}=20(4)/(5)`

Therefore, the painter will take
`20(4)/(5)` hours to paint 8 walls.