SOLUTION: Two pumps working together can fill a water tank in 18 minutes. one pump works twice as fast as the other pump. If each pump worked alone, how long would it take to fill the water

Algebra ->  Rate-of-work-word-problems -> SOLUTION: Two pumps working together can fill a water tank in 18 minutes. one pump works twice as fast as the other pump. If each pump worked alone, how long would it take to fill the water       Log On


   

Question 640453: Two pumps working together can fill a water tank in 18 minutes. one pump works twice as fast as the other pump. If each pump worked alone, how long would it take to fill the water tank?
Answer by lwsshak3(11628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Two pumps working together can fill a water tank in 18 minutes. one pump works twice as fast as the other pump. If each pump worked alone, how long would it take to fill the water tank?
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let x=minutes faster pump can fill tank by itself
Its work rate=1/x
2x=minutes slower pump can fill tank by itself
Its work rate=1/2x
1/18=work rate pumps working together
..
sum of individual work rates=work rate when working together
1/x+1/2x=1/18
LCD=2x
2+1=2x/18
3=x/9
x=27
2x=54
minutes faster pump can fill tank by itself=27
minutes slower pump can fill tank by itself=54