Yeah, so I need help studying for my COMPASS test...

4 plus 6 dived by 2 equals 5?

@Zen Yeah. That’s what I thought it was, too. But nope. If only it were that simple. =/

<<< sucks at math.

In 1 hr, Sally paints ¼th a house and John paints 1/6th a house.
¼ + 1/6 = 1/x
Lowest common denominator is 12. So multiply by 12.
(12x)(¼) + (12x)(1/6) = (12x)(1/x)
3x + 2x = 12
5x = 12
x = 12/5
x = 2.4
2.4 hours or 2 hrs 24 mins.

Good luck, by the way.

@Zen Me too. This test is gonna kill me.

If i was John, i would give Sally a headstart of four hours.

@Allie Correct. Thank you.
I’ll TRY to remember all that….

As @Allie correctly pointed out in the answer above, the trick to these kinds of problems is to find the rate per hour.

Sally paints the house in 4 hrs, so her rate is ¼ of a house per hour.
John paints the house in 6 hrs, so his rate is 1/6 of a house per hour.

In one hour they can paint ¼ + 1/6 of a house or 5/12ths of a house.

In two hours they paint 10/12ths of the house. In 0.4hrs they paint the remaining part of the house.

2.4hrs.

Has Sally got a bigger brush?

Solve the following equation for A: 2A/3 = 8 + 4A
Same deal. If you need the answer first to get a clue of how it’s solved, let me know. But true math wizzes will decline, and that’s who I really need to talk to right now. lol. I haven’t done this shit in years.

2.4?

(3) (2a/3) = (3) (8 + 4a) Get rid of the denominator 3.
2a = 24 + 12a
2a – 12a = 24 + 12a – 12a Get a on one side.
-10a = 24
-10a/-10 = 24/-10 Solve for a.
a = -2.4

When is this test?

Nice one Alie – I rushed and messed the minus signs.

@Allie You’re way too good at this. I appreciate it.

I got it!!!! E=MC2

E = since when do we answer homework questions around here? Have I been gone too long?