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One pump can empty a pool in 7 days, whereas a second pump can empty the pool in 14 days. How long will it take the two pumps, working together, to empty the pool? (Fractional answers are OK.)The first pump's rate is_____per day.The second pump's rate is____per day.The combined pumps rate is____per day.It will take the two pumps_____per day.

One pump can empty a pool in 7 days, whereas a second pump can empty the pool in 14 days-example-1

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The first step is to define the daily rates of each pump

From the information given,

First pump can empty the pool in 7 days. This means that

Daily rate of first pump = 1/7

The first pump's rate is 1/7 per day

Second pump can empty the pool in 14 days. This means that

Daily rate of second pump = 1/14

The second pump's rate is 1/14 per day

Let t be the number of days it will take both pumps, working together to empty the pool. Thus,

combined daily rate of both pumps = 1/t

The rates are additive. It means that

1/7 + 1/14 = 1/t

Simplifying the left side, we have

3/14 = 1/t

The combined pumps rate is 3/14 per day

By taking reciprocal of both sides,

t = 14/3 = 4.67

It will take the two pumps 4.67 days to empty the pool together

User Jacob Mulquin
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