Problema Solution

Source of Heat A will melt a pound of ice in 2 hours and Source of Heat B will melt a pound of ice in 5 hours. How long will it take to melt a pound of ice if both sources are used at the same time?

Answer provided by our tutors

Heat A melting rate is 1/2 pound per hour


Heat B melting rate is 1/5 pound per hour


Let x = the hours the both sources need to melt a pound of ice thus the together rate of melting is 1/x pound per hour


1/2 + 1/5 = 1/x


by solving we find


x = 10/7 hr


x = 1 hr (3/7)*60 min


x = 1 hr 26 min


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both sources will melt a pound of ice in 1 hr and 26 min.