SOLUTION: Problem: In 2 minutes, a conveyor belt moves 300 pounds of recyclable aluminum from the delivery truck to a storage area. A smaller belt moves the same quantity of cans the same

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Question 604998: Problem: In 2 minutes, a conveyor belt moves 300 pounds of recyclable aluminum from the delivery truck to a storage area. A smaller belt moves the same quantity of cans the same distance in 6 minutes. If both belts are used, find how long it takes to move the cans to the storage area.
I used the following equation:
300/2 + 300/6 = 300/x
My answer is 1.25 minutes.
The book's answer is 1-1/2 minutes. What did I do wrong? Please explain how to set up this problem. Thanks!
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
In 2 minutes, a conveyor belt moves 300 pounds of recyclable aluminum from the delivery truck to a storage area.
A smaller belt moves the same quantity of cans the same distance in 6 minutes.
If both belts are used, find how long it takes to move the cans to the storage area.
:
We can do it this way
let t = time required when both belts are used to move 300 lb
:
Let the completed job = 1 (moving 300 lb)
:
+ = 1
Multiply by 6
6* + 6* = 6
Cancel out the denominators
3t + t = 6
4t = 6
t = 6/4
t = 1.5 min