Question

How many gallons of water used for a 15 minute shower? A 20 minute shower?

Answer 1

Answer:

• (a)For a 15-minute shower, you use 37.5 gallons of water.

,

• (b)For a 20-minute shower, you use 50 gallons of water.

Explanation:

The water flows from the showerhead at a rate of 1/24 gallon per second.

First, convert the water flow from gallon per second to gallon per minute.

$\begin{gathered} 60\text{ seconds = 1 minute} \\ \frac{1\text{ gallon}}{24\text{ second}}\times\frac{60\; \text{seconds}}{\text{minute}} \\ =\frac{60}{24}\text{ gallons per minute} \\ =2.5\text{ gallons per minute} \end{gathered}$

Next, we determine the number of gallons required.

(a)A 15-minute shower.

$\begin{gathered} \text{Number of gallons required=Rate}\times Time \\ =\frac{2.5\text{ gallons}}{\text{minute}}\times15\text{ minutes} \\ =2.5\times15 \\ =37.5\text{ gallons} \end{gathered}$

For a 15 minute shower, you use 37.5 gallons of water.

(b)A 20-minute shower.

$\begin{gathered} \text{Number of gallons required=Rate}\times Time \\ =\frac{2.5\text{ gallons}}{\text{minute}}\times20\text{ minutes} \\ =2.5\times20 \\ =50\text{ gallons} \end{gathered}$

For a 20 minute shower, you use 50 gallons of water.