[Alibaba]

this is more an algebra question and I can not seem to get basic understanding to solve this problem. Here is the question I found on an online study guide.

If Sally can paint a house in 4 hours, and John can paint the same house in 6 hour, how long will it take for both of them to paint the house together?
....here is what I have so far,,, It seems the time to complete the project together would be less than the 4 hours Sally needs, since John is contributing although at a slower pace, but what is the actual formula to work out a solution? At first I thought maybe combining the 4 and 6 hours to come up with an average, but that's more than Sally takes alone, and therefore can not be right. I am soo confused.
Help

[Daytonite]

Originally Posted by Alibaba

If Sally can paint a house in 4 hours, and John can paint the same house in 6 hour, how long will it take for both of them to paint the house together?

T/4 (what Sally can do in 1 hour) + T/6 (what John can do in 1 hour) = 1 (one hour, where T = time)

6T + 4T/24 = 1

10T/24 = 1`

10T = 24

T = 24/10

T = 2.4 (this would be hours)

or

1/(1/4 + 1/6)

= 1/(6 + 4)/24

= 24/10

= 2.4 hours

[bsn2011]

Originally Posted by Daytonite

1/(1/4 + 1/6)

= 1/(6 + 4)/24

= 24/10

= 2.4 hours

yeah right! things are easier with calculator

[Daytonite]

Originally Posted by bsn2011

yeah right! things are easier with calculator

There are several different types of algebra word problems. You just have to know how to set them up. Once that it done, then you can use a calculator to solve the actual math. However, FYI, I did this by hand.

There are one or two little books that you can buy as supplements to help you learn how to do algebra word problems. They are not expensive. Once you understand what a word problem is asking for and how to set up the equation for it properly, the rest is just solving the equation. Algebra for Dummies has a section in it on solving word problems that explained some of the types of word problems pretty well. For work problems (the kind like the one above) I had a small supplemental book that did a better job of explaining those and showing examples of how to work them. To learn how to do these types of word problems you have to sit with a book that shows how they are solved and slowly go through the steps of solving them. Then, you have to work examples. You have to be able to distinguish on tests what type of a word problem you are presented with (mixture, work, time/distance) so you know how to set up the equation correctly.

These work problems can get complex. I remember my algebra instructor giving us a problem like this on a test where workers were doing a job, but he added the element of the number of days involved which made the resulting equation more complex.

There are also websites that show you how to set up and work these types of algebra word problems.

• http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/word/
  • http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/word/misc/
• http://algebrahelp.com/lessons/wordproblems/basics/
• http://www.hawaii.edu/suremath/intro_algebra.html - links at lower part of page are sample word problems with solutions worked out
• http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/al...-problems.html
• http://www.jimloy.com/algebra/word4.htm

[MedicalNerd]

Originally Posted by Daytonite

General Math help:

• http://amby.com/educate/math/ - a basic math tutorial
• http://www.academictips.org/acad/mathematics/index.html - advice on how to study math
• http://library.thinkquest.org/20991/home.html - Math for Morons Like Us
• http://www.webmath.com/ - Webmath.com
• http://www.aaamath.com/ - AAA Math.com. Basic math
• http://www.xpmath.com/
• http://www.math.com/homeworkhelp/BasicMath.html
• http://www.sweethaven.com/sweethaven...ns/fracs03.asp -fractions
• http://www.mathleague.com/help/fractions/fractions.htm#simplifyingcomplexfractions - everything you want to know about fractions
• http://www.visualfractions.com/ - Visual Fractions Tutorials
• http://www.free-ed.net/free-ed/Math/PreAlg01/default.asp - Pre-algebra

Algebra help:

• http://www.algebrahelp.com/ - Algebra.help
• http://www.purplemath.com/modules/index.htm - Purplemath Practical algebra lessons
• http://www.algebralab.org/practice/practice.aspx - Algebra Lab
  
• http://www.learner.org/resources/series66.html - algebra lessons on video
  
• http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/col_algebra/index.htm - College Algebra online tutorial
  
• http://64.78.42.182/free-ed/Math/Algebra/Algebra01_VidLect.asp - 26 half hour video lectures in college level algebra
  
• http://www.waybuilder.net/free-ed/Math/PreAlg02/PreAlg01_TBK.asp - ShockWave Lectures in Algebra

For free unlimited practice problems in any of the math disciplines: http://www.interactmath.com/ - follow the directions to download the drivers you need to access the software and then choose a textbook of the type of math you want to work problems from

Medication Calculation Help and practice problems you can work:

• http://www.m2hnursing.com/MedCal/index.php - Medication Calculation Tutorial - you do NOT have to register to go through the tutorial
• http://www.m2hnursing.com/MedCal/index.php - you do not need to login to go through the tutorial
• http://www.accd.edu/sac/nursing/math/default.html
• http://www.dosagehelp.com/
• http://wps.prenhall.com/chet_olsen_medicaldosage_9/ - companion website for Medical Dosage Calculations, 9th edition, by June Looby Olsen, Anthony P. Giangrasso, Dolores M. Shrimpton, and Patricia Dillon.
• http://www.alysion.org/dimensional/analysis.htm
• http://academic.cuesta.edu/nursing/math.htm
• http://webpages.chhs.niu.edu/kuczek/...alulations.htm
• http://www.delta.edu/tlc/TLCStudySup...rsingmath.html
• http://www.crnasomeday.com/medmath1.htm
• http://go.dbcc.edu/hhps/nursing/medi...culations.html
• http://www-isu.indstate.edu/mary/tutorial.htm
• http://home.sc.rr.com/nurdosagecal/
• http://www.testandcalc.com/quiz/index.asp
• http://www.oaklandcc.edu/Nursing/Doc...l2PRACTICE.pdf
• Pediatrics
  • http://www.lww.com/promos1/karch/images/05-Karch.pdf - tutorial
  • http://www.pharmacyexam.com/news/calculation.pdf - conversion chart

Conversion charts:

• http://www.convert-me.com/en/ - Convert Me.com
• http://www.tostepharmd.net/pharm/clinical/measurement.html
• http://www.nurse-center.com/studentnurse/nur11.html - Nursing Formulas and Conversions. Includes a formula on how to do IV calculations
• http://www.accd.edu/sac/nursing/math/mathindex2.html - scroll to the bottom of this home page of this med calc tutorial. See the menu item that says "Common conversion factors/equivalencies"? Click the button next to it that says "GO READ" A conversion chart comes up for you
• http://www.apples4theteacher.com/temperature-conversion.html - Celcius, Farenheti, Kelvin Temperature conversion tables
• http://www.halls.md/body-surface-area/refs.htm - body surface area formulas

Dimensional Analysis tutorials [keep in mind that dimensional analysis is usually done in chemistry and physics and nursing has only adapted it for use in medication calculation problems]:

• http://www.chem.tamu.edu/class/fyp/mathrev/mr-da.html
• http://chemistry.alanearhart.org/Tutorials/DimAnal/
• http://www.ncusd203.org/north/depts/...eviewSheet.pdf

HOLY COW! Thank you so much for this! I am taking Algebra 2 this semester and I really needed some additional support !
I have been the last few weeks trying to get all these rules and theory's to make sense!



Yeah!! Thank you!

[NURSESOMEDAY?]

Ooooohhh, I love this page! Thanks to all for the tips!

[NURSESOMEDAY?]

I can not believe what I was first thinking when I read that problem. Algebra was sooo many years ago. Just for laughs I'll tell you my first thought. Add them up and divide by 2 and get 5! LOL

[Epona]

I am subscribing to this thread. GREAT stuff to work on over the summer! THANKS AGAIN for posting this! Allnurses.com is the BEST!! I am SO GLAD I found this thread!!!!

[FuturisticNurse2B]

hi everyone, newbie here. thank the nursing angels above for this thread. I go to Delaware community college and begin the nursing classes in aug but I am trying to test out of the "math for nurses" class. OMG! but I think I will be ok if I stick to this website and read all of these helpful threads

[mrssmith]

I have read through these threads on the med math and can not believe that people have had a math for nursing class taught to them. I did not have a class like that (wished I did). I was in the clinical part with 3 mo. left of my LPN when I could not pass the med math test with a 90% or better and got kicked out. med math was not taught to us at all. Just amazing! wish the college I attended have a nurse math course! I had a 3.8 GPA at the time.