Two pipes can fill a tank in 6 minutes and 12 minutes respectively, and a third pipe can empty the tank at the rate of 18 liters per minute. If all the pipes working together can fill the empty tank in 5 minutes, the capacity of the tank is: |
600 litres 480 litres 360 litres 630 litres |
360 litres |
The correct answer is Option (3) → 360 litres Let the capacity of the tank be $C$ liters. Rate of first pipe = $\frac{C}{6}$ liters/min Rate of second pipe = $\frac{C}{12}$ liters/min Rate of third pipe (emptying) = 18 liters/min All working together fill the tank in 5 minutes: Net rate × time = capacity $(\frac{C}{6} + \frac{C}{12} - 18) \cdot 5 = C$ $\frac{2C}{12} + \frac{C}{12} - 18 = \frac{3C}{12} - 18 = \frac{C}{4} - 18$ $5(\frac{C}{4} - 18) = C$ $\frac{5C}{4} - 90 = C \Rightarrow \frac{5C}{4} - C = 90 \Rightarrow \frac{C}{4} = 90$ $C = 360$ liters Capacity of the tank = 360 liters |