1. **State the problem:** Ricky mixes white and blue paint in a ratio of 4 pints white to 12 pints blue. The total paint combined is 56 pints. We need to find how many pints are blue and how many are white. 2. **Write the ratio and total:** The ratio of white to blue paint is $4:12$, which can be simplified to $1:3$ by dividing both parts by 4. 3. **Set variables:** Let the number of white pints be $x$ and blue pints be $3x$ (since the ratio is $1:3$). 4. **Write the total equation:** $$x + 3x = 56$$ 5. **Simplify the equation:** $$4x = 56$$ 6. **Solve for $x$:** $$x = \frac{56}{4}$$ $$x = 14$$ 7. **Find the amounts:** - White paint = $x = 14$ pints - Blue paint = $3x = 3 \times 14 = 42$ pints 8. **Check:** $$14 + 42 = 56$$ which matches the total paint. **Final answer:** - Blue pints of paint: 42 - White pints of paint: 14