Multiple choice

The amount of time taken to paint a wall is inversely proportional to the number of painters working on the job. If it takes 3 painters 5 days to complete such a job, how many days longer will it take if there are only 2 painters working?

  1. $2.5$
  2. $2$
  3. $2.4$

  4. None
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Work = Painters * Days. 3 * 5 = 15 man-days. If 2 painters work, days = 15 / 2 = 7.5 days. The question asks how many days 'longer' it will take, which is 7.5 - 5 = 2.5 days.

AI explanation

By the inverse proportionality of painters to days, 3 painters times 5 days equals 2 painters times the new time. Solving this gives the new time as 15 divided by 2, or 7.5 days, which is 2.5 days longer than the original 5 days.

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