SOLUTION: A 1-ox mouse takes about 16 times as many breaths as does a 3-ton elphant. if the two animals takes a combined total 170 breaths per minute, how many breaths does each take during

Algebra ->  Test -> SOLUTION: A 1-ox mouse takes about 16 times as many breaths as does a 3-ton elphant. if the two animals takes a combined total 170 breaths per minute, how many breaths does each take during       Log On


   

Question 602428: A 1-ox mouse takes about 16 times as many breaths as does a 3-ton elphant. if the two animals takes a combined total 170 breaths per minute, how many breaths does each take during that time period?
Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x be the number of breaths the elephant takes in one minute.
Then, a mouse must take 16x breaths (16 times as many) in one minute.
Between the two of them, the combined total number of breaths taken in one minute would be
16x%2Bx=16%2Ax%2B1%2Ax=%2816%2B1%29x=17x
If 17%2Ax=170, then 17%2Ax%2F17=170%2F17, and highlight%28x=10%29
So the elephant takes 10 breaths in one minute and the mouse takes
16%2A10=highlight%28160%29 breaths in one minute.