SOLUTION: One pipe can fill a tank in 24 minutes. A second pipe can fill it in 8 minutes and a third pipe can fill it in 12 minutes. If the tank is empty, how long will the three pipes oper

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Mixtures -> SOLUTION: One pipe can fill a tank in 24 minutes. A second pipe can fill it in 8 minutes and a third pipe can fill it in 12 minutes. If the tank is empty, how long will the three pipes oper      Log On

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Question 123712: One pipe can fill a tank in 24 minutes. A second pipe can fill it in 8 minutes and a third pipe can fill it in 12 minutes. If the tank is empty, how long will the three pipes operating together take to fill it?
____minutes
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Answer by scott8148(6628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
each pipe fills some fraction of the tank, based on the combined time

if the combined time were 12 minutes, then the first pipe would fill 12/24 or half of the tank

let x="combined time" __ (x/24)+(x/8)+(x/12)=1

multiplying by 24 __ x+3x+2x=24 __ 6x=24