SOLUTION: An airplane begins a flight with a total of 112 litres of fuel stored in two separate wing tanks. During the flight 22.7% of the fuel in one tank is used. In the other tank, 55% of

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Question 1147531: An airplane begins a flight with a total of 112 litres of fuel stored in two separate wing tanks. During the flight 22.7% of the fuel in one tank is used. In the other tank, 55% of the fuel is used. If 58 litres of fuel is used in total, find the amount of fuel (in litres) in each tank at the start of the trip.Express your answer correct to three significant digits.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +a+ = liters of fuel at start in 1st tank
Let +b+ = liters of fuel at start in 2nd tank
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(1) +a+%2B+b+=+112+
(2) +.227a+%2B+.55b+=+58+
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(2) +227a+%2B+550b+=+58000+
Multiply both sides of (1) by +550+
and subtract (2) from (1)
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(1) +550a+%2B+550b+=+61600+
(2) +-227a+-+550b+=+-58000+
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+323a+=+3600+
+a+=+11.1455+
and
(1) +a+%2B+b+=+112+
(1) +11.1455+%2B+b+=+112+
(2) +b+=+100.8545+
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11.145 liters at start in 1st tank
100.854 liters at start in 2nd tank
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check answer:
(2) +.227a+%2B+.55b+=+58+
(2) +.227%2A11.145+%2B+.55%2A100.854+=+58+
(2) +2.523+%2B+55.47+=+58+
(2) +57.993+
error due to rounding off
check the math