: John and Bob can paint a room in 12 days.
Will and Nick can paint room in 16 days.
John and Will can paint a room in only 8 days.
How long will it take Bob and Nick to paint the room?

  48 days

Step-by-step explanation:

In terms of rooms per day, the rates add up as ...

  (1/J +1/B) +(1/W +1/N) -(1/J +1/W) = 1/12 +1/16 -1/8

  1/B +1/N = (4+3-6)/48 = 1/48

Bob and Nick working together can paint 1/48 of the room each day. It will take 48 days for Bob and Nick to paint the room.

the difference between a number and 5 is -2.

step-by-step explanation:

notice that the equation you are given has -2 (negative 2) on the right side, not 2. when you subtract 5 from a number n, you are finding the difference between the number and 5.

the difference between a number and 5 is -2.