The simmons family and the wright family each used their sprinklers last summer. the water output rate for the simmons family's sprinkler was 20l per hour. the water output rate for the wright family's sprinkler was 35l per hour. the families used their sprinklers for a combined total of 55 hours, resulting in a total water output 1475l of . how long was each sprinkler used?

the number of hours that the Simmons family used their sprinklers last summer is 30

the number of hours that the Wright family used their sprinklers last summer is 25

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x represent the number of hours that the Simmons family used their sprinklers last summer.

Let y represent the number of hours that the Wright family used their sprinklers last summer.

The families used their sprinklers for a combined total of 55 hours, it means that

x + y = 55

The water output rate for the Simmons family's sprinkler was 20l per hour. The water output rate for the Wright family's sprinkler was 35l per hour. The total water output was 1475l. It means that

20x + 35y = 1475 - - - - - - - - - - 1

Substituting x = 55 - y into equation 1, it becomes

20(55 - y) + 35y = 1475

1100 - 20y + 35y = 1475

- 20y + 35y = 1475 - 1100

15y = 375

y = 375/15 = 25

x = 55 - y = 55 - 25

x = 30