Final answer:
It will take the construction company approximately 2 10/21 hours to remove the dirt.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the number of hours it will take to remove the dirt, we need to divide the total amount of dirt by the amount of dirt that can be removed each hour. First, we need to convert the mixed number 2 1/6 tons to an improper fraction. 2 1/6 = 13/6 tons. Next, we divide 13/6 by 7/8 to find the number of hours:
13/6 ÷ 7/8 = 13/6 × 8/7 = 104/42 = 2 20/42 = 2 10/21
So, it will take the construction company approximately 2 10/21 hours to remove the dirt.