1. **State the problem:** A candlestick burns at a rate of 0.4 inches per hour. We want to find how many hours it takes for a 12-inch candle to burn completely. 2. **Translate into an equation:** Let $t$ be the number of hours it takes to burn the candle. The total length burned is rate multiplied by time, so: $$0.4t = 12$$ 3. **Solve the equation:** To find $t$, divide both sides by 0.4: $$t = \frac{12}{0.4}$$ 4. **Calculate the value:** $$t = 30$$ 5. **Interpretation:** It will take 30 hours for the 12-inch candle to burn completely at the rate of 0.4 inches per hour.