Question

The taylor family and the simmons family each used sprinklers last summer. The water output rate for the taylor family's sprinkler was 40L per hour. The water output rate for the simmons family's sprinkler was 35L per hour. The families used their sprinklers for a combined total of 35 hours, resulting in a water output of 1300L. How long was each sprinkler used?

Answer 1

Answer: the number of hours that the Taylor's family spent using their is 15

the number of hours that the Simmon's family spent using their sprinkler is 20

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x represent the number of hours that the Taylor's family spent using their sprinkler last summer.

Let y represent the number of hours that the Simmon's family spent using their sprinkler last summer.

The families used their sprinklers for a combined total of 35 hours. This means that

x + y = 35

The water output rate for the taylor family's sprinkler was 40L per hour. The water output rate for the simmons family's sprinkler was 35L per hour. The total water output was 1300L. It means that

40x + 35y = 1300 - - - - - - - - - - -1

Substituting x =35 - y into equation 1, it becomes

40(35 - y) + 35y = 1300

1400 - 40y + 35y = 1300

- 40y + 35y = 1300 - 1400

- 5y = - 100

y = - 100/ - 5

y = 20

x =35 - y = 35 - 20

x = 15