SOLUTION: Hi, I have Problem with the following question Question - two tanks contain equal amounts of water. they are connected by a pipe and 3000 litres of water is pumped from one tank

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Question 824305: Hi,
I have Problem with the following question
Question - two tanks contain equal amounts of water. they are connected by a pipe and 3000 litres of water is pumped from one tank to the other. one tank then contains 6 times as much water as the other. how many litres of water did each tank contain originally?
Answer by fcabanski(1391) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Call the tanks A and B. Originally A=B. Say the water was pumped from A to B.


That means subtract 3000 liters from A (A-3000) and add 3000 liters to B (B+3000). B+3000 is 6 times A-3000.


6(A-3000) = B+3000 ---> 6A - 18000 = B + 3000.


Remember, that A = B. So substitute B into the equation for A.


6B - 18000 = B + 3000


5B = 21000


B = 21000/5 = 4200 = A.


Both tanks originally held 4200 liters. After 3000 liters were pumped from A to B:


A held 1200 and B held 7200. 6*1200 = 7200