Problema Solution
Jared and Blake want to start a house painting business. It takes Jared twice as long as Blake to paint a house alone. Together, they can paint a house in 12 hours. How long does it take Blake to paint a house alone?
Answer provided by our tutors
let
x = the hours that Jared needs to paint the house alone
y = the hours that Blake needs to paint the house alone
it takes Jared twice as long as Blake to paint a house alone
x = 2y
together, they can paint a house in 12 hours
1/x + 1/y = 1/12
by solving the system of equations
x = 2y
1/x + 1/y = 1/12
we find
x = 36 hours
y = 18 hours
Blake needs 18 hours to paint the house alone.