Work Problems

In work problems, we are dealing with the rate of work, meaning how fast a person can
finish a certain work. Equations in work problems mostly consist of fractions. Take note
of what is being asked in the problem and use only one variable to avoid confusions. The
answers are usually fractions but it is better to convert it into mixed fractions.
o Example

Suppose one painter can paint the entire house in twelve hours, and the
second painter takes eight hours. How long would it take the two painters
together to paint the house?

First is to determine the rate of work.

Rates are always in fraction form with
the work on the numerator and the
time in the denominator. In this
problem, theres only 1 work which is
1/8
painting the house

The rate of one painter- 1/12

The rate of second painter-

Next is to set up the equation. In the

problem, we are being asked to find the
how long it will take to paint the house
if the two painters work together. So we
add the rate of the two painters. The
variable we are using is t.

multiples

)(

(
In solving equations like this, it is easier
not to get the LCD but instead getting
the multiples and multiplying them to
the equation. The multiples are just the
denominators of the rates so 12, 8 and
t are the multiples.

(12

(12

(12

(12
(

(12
8t

96
20t 96
t

or

The two painters can finish the

painting the house in
hours.

or