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Example

Problem Felix, Tom and Brian can paint a room together in 2


hours. If Tom does the job alone she can paint the
room in 5 hours. If Brian works alone, he can paint the
room in 6 hours. If Felix works alone, how long would
it take her to paint the room?
Determine the hourly rates for each
person and for the whole group
Tom + Brian + Felix = room/ hour

using the formula .


Tom = room/hour Work is painting 1 room, so W = 1.

We don’t know how long Felix will


Brian = room/hour take, so we need to keep the
variable t.

Felix = room/hour
Write an equation to show that the
sum of their individual rates equals
the group rate.

(Think of it this way: Tom works for

one hour and paints of the room.


Brian works for an hour and

paints of the room. Felix works

for an hour and paints of the


room. Together they have painted
half the room in one hour.
Solve the rational equation.

First find the least common


denominator of the individual rates.
Itis 5 • 6 • t = 30t.

Then multiply each term on the left


by a fractional form of 1 so that all
rates have the same denominator
and can be added. (Note: we could
also have found the common
denominator of the entire equation,
which is also 30t, and multiplied
both sides by it.)

Now multiply both sides of the


equation by the common
denominator, then simplify.

11t + 30 =

11t + 30 =15t

11t - 11t + 30 = 15t – 11t

30 = 4t

7.5 = t
Answer It would take Felix 7.5 hours to paint the room by herself

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