Question

A rain barrel is full of water and used to water a garden. The rain barrel loses water at the rate of 2.5 gallons of water per minute. After seven minutes, the rain barrel contains 37.5 gallons. How many gallons of water were initially in the rain barrel? Show and explain your work.

Answer 1

Explanation:

Loss of water per minute = 2.5 gallons

Loss of water for 7 minutes = 2.5 * 7 = 17.5 gallons

Water initially in the gallon = 37.5 + 17.5 = 55 gallons