SOLUTION: It takes pipe B 5 hours longer to drain a tank than pipe A. If both pipes are open it take 6 hours to drain the tank. How long does it take for Pipe A working alone to drain the ta

Question 245715: It takes pipe B 5 hours longer to drain a tank than pipe A. If both pipes are open it take 6 hours to drain the tank. How long does it take for Pipe A working alone to drain the tank?
Answer by marcsam823(57) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x = # hours it takes Pipe A to drain the tank working alone
Let x + 5 = # hours it takes Pipe B to drain the tank working alone
Let 1/x = portion of the job Pipe A can perform in one hour
Let 1/(x+5)= portion of the job Pipe B can perform in one hour

Set up the equation:
Here it is in words:
(portion of the job Pipe A can perform in one hour + portion of the job Pipe B can perform in one hour) x # hours to perform the job = 100% of the job or 1 job completed

And Algebraically:
Solve for x:
(1/x + 1(x+5))(6) = 1

x = -3 Reject this answer (cannot have a negative value for time)
It takes Pipe A 10 hours to drain the tank working alone
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