SOLUTION: I have another word problem that i am stuck on. Will you please help? "A large pipe can empty a tank in 5 hours, and a smaller pipe can empty it in 6 hours. How long would it ta

Algebra ->  Expressions-with-variables -> SOLUTION: I have another word problem that i am stuck on. Will you please help? "A large pipe can empty a tank in 5 hours, and a smaller pipe can empty it in 6 hours. How long would it ta      Log On


   

Question 43716: I have another word problem that i am stuck on. Will you please help? "A large pipe can empty a tank in 5 hours, and a smaller pipe can empty it in 6 hours. How long would it take to empty the tank if both pipes were draining the tank?
Answer by vihits13(20) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
this problem deals with fractions. if the larger pipe empties the tank in 5 hours, then that means that it can empty 1/5 of the tank in one hour. if the smaller pipe empties the tank in 6 hours, then that means it can empty 1/6 of the tank in one hour.
to see how much of the tank they can empty together in one hour, you need to find the sum of 1/5 and 1/6.
1/5 + 1/6= 11/30
to find how much time it will take them to fully empty the tank you have to divide 1 by 11/30.
1/(11/30)= 30/11
to find the number of minutes multiply 30/11 by 60.
(30/11)*60=163.63
it will approximately take them 164 minutes to empty out the whole tank.