A water tank holds 1,168 gallons but is leaking at a rate of 5 gallons per week. A second water tank holds 1,460 gallons but is leaking at a rate of 9 gallons per week. After how many weeks will the amount of water in the two tanks be the same?

Question

Genevieve

Mathematics

26 September, 23:43

A water tank holds 1,168 gallons but is leaking at a rate of 5 gallons per week. A second water tank holds 1,460 gallons but is leaking at a rate of 9 gallons per week. After how many weeks will the amount of water in the two tanks be the same?

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Answers (1)

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Julius Washington · Answer 1

Answer: it will take 73 weeks for the amount of water in the two tanks be the same.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x represent the number of weeks it will take for the amount of water in the two tanks be the same.

A water tank holds 1,168 gallons but is leaking at a rate of 5 gallons per week. It means that the number of gallons that would be in the tank after x weeks is

1168 - 5x

A second water tank holds 1,460 gallons but is leaking at a rate of 9 gallons per week. It means that the number of gallons that would be in the tank after x weeks is

1460 - 9x

For the amount of water in both tanks to be the same, the number of weeks would be

1168 - 5x = 1460 - 9x

- 5x + 9x = 1460 - 1168

4x = 292

x = 292/4

x = 73