Question

an empty 1200 gallon tank is filled with water at a rate of 6 gallons of water per minute. At the same time another 1200 gallon tank full of water is being drained at a rate of 9 gallons per minute how many minutes will it take for the amount of water in both tanks to become the same

Answer 1

Answer: 80 minutes

Step-by-step explanation:

Hi, to answer this question we have to write an equation for each tank:

An empty 1200 gallon tank is filled with water at a rate of 6 gallons of water per minute.  

So, the amount of water of the tank is equal to the filling rate, 6 liters per minute (6m)

• Tank 1 =0 (empty )+ 6m  =6m

The second 1200 gallon tank full of water is being drained at a rate of 9 gallons per minute.

• Tank 2 = 1200-9m

So, the amount of water in the tank is equal to the amount of water already in the tank (1200 g), minus the draining rate (9m)

Since both tanks will have the same amount of water:

6m = 1200-9m

Solving for m  (minutes):

6m+9m= 1200

15m = 1200

m= 1200/15

m= 80 minutes

Feel free to ask for more if needed or if you did not understand something.