With a given illumination and film, the correct exposure for a camera lens set at $f / 12$ is $(1 / 5)$ s. What is the proper exposure time with the lens working at $f / 4$ ?
A setting of $f / 12$ means that the diameter of the opening, or stop, of the lens is $1 / 12$ of the focal length; $f / 4$ means that it is $1 / 4$ of the focal length.
The amount of light passing through the opening is proportional to its area, and therefore to the square of its diameter. The diameter of the stop at $f / 4$ is three times that at $f / 12$, so $3^{2}=9$ times as much light will pass through the lens at $f / 4$, and the correct exposure at $f / 4$ is
$$
(1 / 9)(\text { exposure time at } f / 12)=(1.45) \mathrm{s}
$$