A construction company needs to remove 2 and 1/6 tons of dirt from a construction site. They can remove 7/8 tons of dirt each hour. What is the total number of hours it will take to remove the dirt?

Answer 1

Rate of dirt removal (rate) = 7/8 tons/hr

Total dirt removed (dirt) = 2 1/16 tons

Each hour, 7/8 tons of dirt will be removed, so if you work for h hours, you will have removed 7/8 * x tons of dirt. You can set up an equation as follows:

7/8 tons/hr * h hr = 2 1/16 tons (see how the units work out to give you tons)

Rearrange and solve for h:

h = (2 1/16) / (7/8) = 33/14 hrs = 2.357hrs