Water Pipe Problem

[Angel Haroon]

I think the ratio 1 : 2 is how we will solve this. I divided 1000/2 = 500 but the answer is wrong.

How to solve know?

 

[Dr.Peterson]

I would suggest labeling each pipe with the amount that goes through it. You have the first step right: The left pipe at the top has 500 l, and the right pipe has 500 l. But then each pipe forks again; how much is in each of the 4 pipes at that level? Then, how much goes into each container?

 

[pka]

In addition to reply #2, I suggest your thing about how many splits take place and where each ends up?

 

[HallsofIvy]

At the first split half the water goes to the left and half goes to the right. At each of the two next splits, half goes to the left and half goes to the right. What is 1/2 of 1/2?

 

[Steven G]

The 1:2 ratio is wrong. However lets suppose it is correct. This means for every liter that goes to the left, then 2 liters goes to the right.

If 500 liters goes to the left, then the remaining 500 liters goes to the right. Since an equal amount is going to each side, then the ratio would be 1:1 not 1:2.


Let's try the correct method. You start with 100l. At the first fork, 500 goes to the left and 500 goes to the right. At the 2nd fork, 250 goes to the left into container x and 250 goes to container y. The other 500 goes to container y. So how much went to container x? What is the ratio?