Question

Sally can paint a room in 3 hours while it takes Steve 6 hours to paint the same room. How long would it take them to paint the room if they worked​ together?

Answer 1

2h

Explanation:

You can solve this one by adding their rates, but you have to invert the numbers they give you to find the rate. Rate is measured in something per unit of time, and "per" indicates division. So the rates are: 1/3 of an hour (Sally) and 1/6 of an hour (Steve). So add the rates: 1/3 + 1/6 = 1/2. (1/3 is 2/6, and 2/6 + 1/6 = 3/6). Since their combined rate is 1/2 of a room in one hour, it takes them two hours to paint the room.