Problema Solution

Working together, two pumps can drain a certain pool in 6 hours. If it takes the older pump 15 hours to drain the pool by itself, how long will it take the newer pump to drain the pool on its own?

Answer provided by our tutors

it takes the older pump 15 hours to drain the pool by itself thus the rate of the old pump is 1/15 pools per hour


working together, two pumps can drain a certain pool in 6 hours thus the together rate is 1/6 pools per hour


let x = the hours the newer pump needs to drain the pool alone. its rate is 1/x pools per hour


1/x + 1/15 = 1/6


by solving we find


x = 10 hr


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the newer pump will need 10 hours to drain the pool on its own.