SOLUTION: Hi....I am having a really hard time with word problems. I am not sure how to make this into an equation. Please help!!! Tank A contains 3000 gallons of water and Tank B contain

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Question 163676: Hi....I am having a really hard time with word problems. I am not sure how to make this into an equation. Please help!!!
Tank A contains 3000 gallons of water and Tank B contains 1000 gallons of water. The water in tank A is being drained into Tank B at the rate of 3/2 gal/minute, while water leaks from Tank B at 1/2 gal/min. How long until Tank A has the same amount of water as Tank B? How much water does each tank contain then?
Thank you.....Kathy Gafford
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Tank A contains 3000 gallons of water and Tank B contains 1000 gallons of water.
The water in tank A is being drained into Tank B at the rate of 3/2 gal/minute,
while water leaks from Tank B at 1/2 gal/min. How long until Tank A has the
same amount of water as Tank B?
:
Let t = time required for the two tanks to be equal (in minutes)
:
Use 1.5 for 3/2 and .5 for 1/2
:
3000 - drained = 1000 + added - drained
3000 - 1.5t = 1000 + 1.5t - .5t
:
3000 - 1.5t = 1000 + 1t
:
3000 - 1000 = 1.5t + 1t
:
2000 = 2.5t
t =
t = 800 min or: 800/60 = 13 hrs 20 min
:
How much water does each tank contain then?
Replace t with 800 min
3000 - 1.5(800) =
3000 - 1200 = 1800 gal in tank 1
and
1000 + 1(800) = 1800 in tank 2
:
How about this? Did it make sense to you? Any questions?