Answer :

You can set up the equation 3y=2r, with r standing for the amount of red paint in gallons, the same going for y.  If you substitute in 8.5 for y, you get that 2r=25.5.  Divie each side by 2, and r=12.75.  So, Pedro uses 12.75 (or 12 and three-fourths) gallons of red paint.