Question

A group of college students is volunteering for Homes for the Community during their spring break. They are putting the finishing touches on a house they built. Working alone, Wade can paint a certain room in 6 hours. Rhonda can paint the same room in 3 hours. How long will it take them working together to paint the room? Round your answer to the nearest hundredth if necessary.

Answer 1

2 hours.

Explanation:

From the question given,

Wade can do the work alone in 6 hours.

Rhonda can do the same work in 3 hours.

Next, we shall determine how much work is done by Wade and Rhonda in 1 hour each. This is illustrated below:

If Wade can do the work alone in 6 hours.

Then Wade can do 1/6 of the work in 1 hour.

If Rhonda can do the same work in 3 hours.

Then Rhonda can do 1/3 of the work in 1 hour.

Next, we shall determine the work done by Wade and Rhonda when they work together. This is illustrated below:

Wade's 1 hour work = 1/6

Rhonda's 1 hour work = 1/3

Therefore, work done by Wade and Rhonda together in 1 hour = 1/6 + 1/3 = 3/6 = 1/2

Since they completed 1/2 of the work in 1 hour, it means they will complete the work in 2 hours.