Thread: Algebra word problem

A pollution control device reduces the rate of emission of an air pollutant in a car's exhaust by 56 parts per million per hour. When the device is installed, it will take the car 10 hr to emit the same amount of pollutant that it formerly did in 3 hr. What was the original rate of emission of the pollutant in the car's exhaust ?

Thank you.

Hello, sahip!

A pollution control device reduces the rate of emission of an air pollutant
. . in a car's exhaust by 56 parts per million per hour.
When the device is installed, it will take the car 10 hr to emit the same amount
. . of pollutant that it formerly did in 3 hr.

What was the original rate of emission of the pollutant in the car's exhaust?

Let = parts per million.

Let ppm/hr = engine's original rate of emission of pollutant.

In 3 hours, it emits ppm of pollutant.


With the device installed, the engine's rate is: ppm/hr

In 10 hours, it emits ppm of pollutant.


These two amounts are equal: .

. .


Therefore, the original rate of pollutant emission is ppm/hr.