This is a simple algebra question.

Tell me why your guess. I am curious. This baffled me. Would they really paint it in less time if they are working together?

Of course if they are combined, it will take them less time to paint the same house. I just guessed that it's 6-4=2 that is why. As I've said, I am not very good in math but I can do it if it's between life and death.

Actually the answer is....

The answer is two hours and 24 minutes to be precise. I was thinking 5 hours because the other painter would slow the process down. LOL

Can you explain it in a different way?

Please explain your answer another way. I am a little confused. I won't say you are wrong.

Lets do it this way.

All we know is because Painter A is faster so the job will get done in AT LEAST four hours, but becuase Painter B is helping, it will get done in under that time.

Four and six's greatest common denominater is twelve, so we're going to divide twelve by four and again by six.

We now have three and two. Three plus two equals five. Now we take that common denominator (or any number really) and divide it by what we just came up with, the five.

We get 2.4

Lets try it with thirty six.
36/4=9 36/6=6
9+6=15

36/15= 2.4

That's kind of all I got, and I don't know how to explain how it works.
But if it helps...

You win. Your right. Thanks for the breakdown.

No Problem.

Kmilliron is right. I'll try to explain in a different way. Think of the house as a square. For painter 1 to paint the square it will take 4 hours. So divide the square in 4. 1 hour of painting, 1/4 painted. 2 hours of painting, 1/2 painted. Get the picture? 1/4+1/4=1/2. Take note: 1/2 painted in 2 hours. Half of the house painted. Now how much can painter 2 paint in 2 hours? Again the square, for painter 2 to paint will take 6 hours. So divide the square in 6. 1 hour of painting, 1/6 painted. 2 hours of painting 2/6 painted. Get the picture? 1/6+1/6=2/6 or 1/3. 1/3 of the house painted in 2 hours. Remember now half the square was already done by painter 1. And 1/3 by painter 2. How much is left unpainted? 1/6 is left unpainted. 1/6 will take painter 2 one hour, but now it will be a combined effort by painter 1 and 2 to finish the 1/6 left unpainted. It definitely will not take one hour right? 1/6 left unpainted, combined effort by painter 1 and 2 will take 24 minutes or .4. So 2 hours plus .4 is 2.4 hours. I hope that did not confuse you more. I tried.

Great job.

erase my stupid answer below. Just read this...makes so much more sense. Still good brain excersise. It 's been a while.

Saw your response that you saw the right answer above. Don't feel bad that was my reaction too. It's been a lot longer than five years since I did algebra, so maybe this is new math. HAHAHAHA. Just kidding. I would have to say the other guy even explained it halfway decently.

Ya, I know. who let the genius in?

That's what I thought. I couldn't figure out what painter who paints so fast would want to slow down his or her efforts by working with someone else. LOL

Fast isn't always profitable.

LOL. Actually, I think it has more to do with business and finances. If you take to people that own their own painting business, they will be in it for their profit. Then, nothing gets done except calculations and arguments. Whoever paints the most gets the most money. LOL Here in the US, it doesn't matter male or female no work goes on. LOL

The answer is a little over two hours. I don't see how any work will get done if you hire two competitive painters. Will the paint colors even match? LOL This was too complicated for me. LOL