Two candles have different lengths and thickness. The longer one can burn for 6 hours and the shorter one for 9 hours. After 3 hours of burning, both candles have the same length. The shorter candle's length divided by the longer candle's length was?

8 answers

let the shorter have an original length of x units
let the longer have an original length of y units

rate of the shorter = x/6
rate of the longer = y/9
length of shorter after 3 hours = x - 3x/6 = x - x/2 = x/2
lenght of longer after 3 hours = y - 3y/9 = y - y/3 = 2y/3

but x/2 = 2y/3
3x = 4y
x/y = 4/3
oops
Please reverse my definitions,
the shorter is y
the longer is x

so longer/shorter = 4/3
Thanks Rainy
Sorry *Reiny*
Why is it x - 3x/9, why is it 3 times x?
Please reply Reiny
Reiny, I'm still a bit confused. I have the same question that Shubham has. Could you please explain a bit more clearly?
Sandavi/Shubham -- how can we take you seriously? You are apparently the same person who is talking to yourself.