Question

Water is being pumped into a 12-foot-tall cylindrical tank at a constant rate.

• The depth of the water is increasing linearly.
• At 2:30 p.m., the water depth was 2.6 feet.
• It is now 5:00 p.m., and the depth of the water is 3.6 feet.
What will the depth (in feet) of the water be at 6:00 p.m.?

Answer 1

4 feet

Explanation:

It is given that:

• At 2:30 p.m., the water depth was 2.6 feet.

• It is now 5:00 p.m., and the depth of the water is 3.6 feet.

So in 2.5 hours ( 5pm - 2:30pm) the water rose 1 feet (3.6 - 2.6).

Now we can find how much water rises in 1 hour by setting up a ratio (let x be the depth increase of water in 1 hr):

`(2.5)/(1)=(1)/(x)\\2.5x=1*1\\2.5x=1\\x=(1)/(2.5)\\x=0.4`

So, in 1 hour, the water level will rise 0.4 feet

So, at 6pm (1 hour from 5 pm) it will rise to 3.6 + 0.4 = 4 feet