A twelve inch candle and an 18 inch candle are lit at 6pm. The 12-in. candle burns 0.5 inches every hour. The 18 inch candle burns two inches every hour. At what time will the two candles be the same height? Let h represent the number of hours.

Question

Mathematics

Yael Barber

17 July, 12:31

A twelve inch candle and an 18 inch candle are lit at 6pm. The 12-in. candle burns 0.5 inches every hour. The 18 inch candle burns two inches every hour. At what time will the two candles be the same height? Let h represent the number of hours.

+5

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Mullins · Answer 1

12 - 0.5x = 18 - 2x

12 + 1.5h = 18

1.5h = 6

h = 4

4 hours

or to work it out the other way ...

18 - 2t = 12 - 0.5t

6 = 1.5t

t = 6/1.5

t = 4 hours, at time of 10 p. m.