SOLUTION: two pipes 2 can fill a tank in 61 minutes if both are turned on. if only one is used, it would take 57 minutes longer for the smaller pipe to fill the tank than the larger pipe. ho

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas -> SOLUTION: two pipes 2 can fill a tank in 61 minutes if both are turned on. if only one is used, it would take 57 minutes longer for the smaller pipe to fill the tank than the larger pipe. ho      Log On


   

Question 983258: two pipes 2 can fill a tank in 61 minutes if both are turned on. if only one is used, it would take 57 minutes longer for the smaller pipe to fill the tank than the larger pipe. how long will it take for the smaller pipe to fill the tank?(round off the answer to the nearest tenth.
the answer is 156.8 minutes. but how please tell me.
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, solver91311:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39613) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The already-posted solution to this same identical problem should have been enough:

http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/word/misc/Miscellaneous_Word_Problems.faq.question.983137.html

Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Let represent the number of minutes the small pipe takes to fill the tank. Since we know this is 57 minutes longer than it takes the large pipe to fill the tank, the large pipe must take minutes.

So if it takes minutes to fill the tank with the small pipe, then the small pipe can fill of the tank in 1 minute. Likewise, the large pipe would fill of the tank in 1 minute. Since it takes 61 minutes working together, the two pipes working together can fill of the tank in 1 minute. Consequently:



I'll leave the algebra to you, but this simplifies to:



Solve for the positive root.

John

My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it