word problem

Question

Three students, Phumelo, Ivan and John, painted a room together. They spent 4 hours, 3
hours and 1 hour, respectively, on the task. They earned R400 in total, for the job. How much
should each of them receive?

Answer 1

Adding all of their work together we get 4 hr + 3 hr + 1 hr = 8 hrs of work.

 

If the payment for 8 hrs of work is R400 then the payment per hour of work is R400 ÷ 8 = R50 per hr.

 

Phumelo then should receive 4 hr x R50/hr = R200

 

Ivan should receive 3 hr x R50/hr = R150

 

and John for 1 hour of work should receive R50

Answer 2

The students spent a total of:

 

4 hours + 3 hours + 1 hour = 8 hours on the job.

 

Phumelo worked 4 of the 8 hours so he should receive 4/8 of the $400:

 

Phumelo's Pay = (4/8)*($400) = ???

 

Ivan worked 3 of the 8 hours, and should get (3/8) of the pay:

 

Ivan's Pay = (3/8)*($400) = ???

 

John worked the remaining 1 of 8 hours.  How much of the $400 should he get?