Question

Logan has two aquariums. One aquarium contains 1.5 cubic feet of water and the other contains 1.3 cubic feet of water. The water in the larger aquarium weighs 12.48 pounds more than the water in the smaller aquarium. Complete the equation with a variable on both sides to represent the situation. Use x to represent the weight of 1 cubic foot of water. Then find the weight of 1 cubic foot of water.

Answer 1

x: weight of 1 cubic foot of water, in pounds per cubic foot

weight of the first aquarium (in pounds): 1.5x

weight of the second aquarium (in pounds): 1.3x

The water in the larger aquarium weighs 12.48 pounds more than the water in the smaller aquarium. Then,

1.5x = 1.3x + 12.48

Solving for x,

1.5x - 1.3x = 12.48

0.2x = 12.48

x = 12.48/0.2

x = 62.4 pounds per cubic foot