SOLUTION: Can you please tell me if 75.19 minutes is correct answer for the below problem? If not, how should I set it up? The time t required to empty a tank varies inversely as the rate

Question 25703: Can you please tell me if 75.19 minutes is correct answer for the below problem? If not, how should I set it up?
The time t required to empty a tank varies inversely as the rate r of the pumping. If a pump can empty a tank in 45 minutes at a rate of 600 kL/min, how long will it take a pump to empty the same tank if its rate is 1000 kL/min?

Answer by Earlsdon(6103) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First, it's always a good idea to see if your answer is "reasonble"
If it takes 45 minutes to empty the tank pumping at 600 KL/min, then it would seem reasonable to expect it to take less time time to empty the tank if the pumping rate is higher, wouldn't it?
Your answer is a lot higher than you should expect.
Here's how you should do this problem. Write the proportionality equation:
Now substitute the given values of t (45 min) and r (600 KL/min) and solve for k, the proprtionality constant.
Multiply both sides by 600.

Now you can solve the problem for r = 1000 KL/min.

minutes.