document.write( "Question 898080: One water pipe fills a water tank in x hours. A second pipe takes 3 hours longer. The two pipes
\n" ); document.write( "together fill the water tank in 2 hours. How long would it take each pipe to fill the water tank
\n" ); document.write( "separately?
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Algebra.Com's Answer #544521 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Add their rates of filling to get their
\n" ); document.write( "rate filling together
\n" ); document.write( "1st pipe's rate:
\n" ); document.write( "( 1 tank ) / ( x hrs )
\n" ); document.write( "2nd pipe's rate:
\n" ); document.write( "( 1 tank ) / ( x + 3 hrs )
\n" ); document.write( "Rate with both pipes filling:
\n" ); document.write( "( 1 tank ) / ( 2 hrs )
\n" ); document.write( "----------------------------
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+1%2Fx+%2B+1%2F%28+x+%2B+3+%29+=+1%2F2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides by $\"+x%2A%28+x+%2B+3+%29%2A2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+2%2A%28+x%2B3+%29+%2B+2x+=+x%2A%28+x%2B3+%29+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+2x+%2B+6+%2B+2x+=+x%5E2+%2B+3x+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+x%5E2+-+x+-+6+=+0+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+%28+x+-+3+%29%2A%28+x+%2B+2+%29+=+0+\"$ ( by inspection )
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+x+=+3+\"$ is the positive answer, so
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+x+%2B+3+=+6+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "-----------------
\n" ); document.write( "The 1st pipe takes 3 hrs
\n" ); document.write( "The 2nd pipe takes 6 hrs
\n" ); document.write( "----------------------
\n" ); document.write( "check:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+1%2Fx+%2B+1%2F%28+x+%2B+3+%29+=+1%2F2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+1%2F3+%2B+1%2F6+=+1%2F2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+2%2F6+%2B+1%2F6+=+3%2F6+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+3%2F6+=+3%2F6+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "OK \n" ); document.write( "

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