Problema Solution

Working together, it takes two different sized hoses

20

minutes to fill a small swimming pool. If it takes

25

minutes for the larger hose to fill the swimming pool by itself, how long will it take the smaller hose to fill the pool on its own?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


x = minutes the smaller hose needs to fill the pool on its own


thus the rate of the smaller hose is 1/x pools per min


it takes 25 minutes for the larger hose to fill the swimming pool by itself thus its rate is 1/25 pools per min


working together, it takes two different sized hoses 20 minutes to fill a small swimming pool thus their together rate is 1/20 pools per min


1/x + 1/25 = 1/20


by solving we find:


x = 100 min


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it takes 100 minutes for the smaller hose to fill the pool on its own.