Question

Translate the following into an algebraic expression:

A pump fills a pool at the rate of 20 cubic meters in an hour. If each cubic meter of water costs $10, how many minutes will the pump work to use up $300.

Answer 1

For this case, the first thing we must do is define variables.

We have then:

x: number of minutes

y: total cost

We write the algebraic expression that models the problem.

We have then:

$y = 10 * (\frac{20}{60}) x$

Simplifying we have:

$y = (\frac{10}{3}) x$

Then, by the time the cost is equal to $ 300 we have:

$300 = (\frac{10}{3}) x$

From here, we clear the value of x.

Answer:

an algebraic expression for the problem is:

$300 = (\frac{10}{3}) x$