word problem help! please!?

flew62999

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Aug 30, 2005
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At a dairy plant, a milk tank can be filled in 6 hours (using the inlet valve). Using the outlet valve, the tank can be emptied in 8 hours. If both valves are open and milk is being pumped into the tank, how long will it take them to fill the tank?

where do I begin? is this a divison problem like 6/x + 8/y? but what do I equal it to? please help!
 
Consider One Hour.

Fill 1/6 of tank in one hour.
Empty 1/8 of tank in one hour.

How many hours to fill at this rate? [(1/6) - (1/8)]
 
1/6 – 1/8 = 1/x
= 24x (1/6 – 1/8) = 1/x (24x)
= 4x – 3x = 24
x = 24hours

is this correct?
 
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