Two pipes can be used to fill a swimming pool. When the first pipe is closed, the second pipe can fill the pool in 14 hours. When the second pipe is closed, the first pipe can fill the pool in 6.5 hours. How long (in hours) will it take to fill the pool if both pipes are open? (Round your answer to two decimal places.)
?2021-03-02T22:42:26Z
Two pipes can be used to fill a swimming pool. When the first pipe is closed, the second pipe can fill the pool in 14 hours. When the second pipe is closed, the first pipe can fill the pool in 6.5 hours. How long (in hours) will it take to fill the pool if both pipes are open?
1/14 + 1/6.5 = 1/x x ≈ 4.43902 hours It will take 4.44 hours (The answer is rounded to two decimal places).
The rate r₂ at which the second pipe pumps water is 1 pool / 14 hours. Thus, we have
r₂= 1/14
Similarly, the rate r₁ at which the first pipe pumps water is 1 pool / 6.5 hours, and thus, we have
r₁ = 1 / 6.5
We want the time t it will take to fill the pool with both pipes open. The amount of water pumped by both pipes within t hours is given by r₁t and r₂t respectively.