SOLUTION: Say you were filling a tank with 3 different pipes, a, b,c . How would you find the answer to how long it would take to fill the tank with all three variables, instead of two like

Algebra ->  Rate-of-work-word-problems -> SOLUTION: Say you were filling a tank with 3 different pipes, a, b,c . How would you find the answer to how long it would take to fill the tank with all three variables, instead of two like       Log On


   



Question 666144: Say you were filling a tank with 3 different pipes, a, b,c . How would you find the answer to how long it would take to fill the tank with all three variables, instead of two like in the example shown in the lessons
Answer by swincher4391(1107) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let the rate of a,b,and c be r[a]x, r[b]x, r[c]x.
Let's say that the rate is in units of hours per job. We want in terms of jobs per hour.
So the general setup would be 1/(r[a]x) + 1/(r[b]x) + 1/(r[c]x) = 1/3