Question

a water tank holds 208 gallons but is leaking at a rate of 3 gallons per week. a second water tank holds 312 gallons but is leaking at a rate of 5 gallons per week. after how many weeks will the amount of water in the two tanks be the same?

Answer 1

x = 64 weeks

Explanation:

Based on the quantity of water in the tanks and the leakage rate, the two tanks will be equal after 64 weeks.

The first tank has 256 gallons and is leaking at 3 gallons per week. Assuming the number of weeks is x, the expression is:

= Water in tank - (Gallons leaking per week x No. of weeks)

= 256 - (3 × x)

= 256 - 3x

The second tank:

= 384 - 5x

To find the number of weeks they would be equal, equate both tanks:

384 - 5x = 256 - 3x

384 - 256 = -3x + 5x

128 = 2x

x = 128 / 2