document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=33803>Question 33803</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> One conveyor belt can move 1000 boxes in 12 minutes.  Another can move 1000 boxes in 9 minutes.  If another conveyor is added and all three are used, the boxes are moved in 3 minutes.  How long would it take the third conveyor belt alone to do the same job? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #20198 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=20198\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 1st belt Data:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  time=12 min    ;   rate = 1/12 job/min<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2nd belt Data:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  time=9 min     ;   rate = 1/9 job/min<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3rd belt Data:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  time= x min    ;   rate =  1/x job/min<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Together Data:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  time= 3 min    ;   rate =  1/3 job/min<BR>\n" );
document.write( "EQUATION:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "rate + rate + rate= 1/3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1/12  + 1/9  + 1/x  = 1/3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Multiply thru by 36x to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3x + 4x + 36 = 12x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5x=36<BR>\n" );
document.write( " x=7.2 minutes  (time for the 3rd belt working alone)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );