It takes four painters working at the same rate 1.25 work-days to finish a job. If only three painters are available, how many work-days will it take them to finish the job, working at the same rate? Express your answer as a mixed number.
If it takes four painters 1.25 work-days to finish a job, one painter could finish the job in five days, which means that one painter does one-fifth of the job each day.
At the same rate, 3 painters can finish three-fifths of the job in one day.
To finish the whole job: 1 / (3/5) = 5/3 = 1 2/3 days.