unsure about this question

Question

A water tank is  1/8 full. The tank is  3/4 full when 42 gallons of water are added to the tank.

a. How much water can the tank hold?

b. How much water was originally in the tank?

c. How much water is in the tank when it is 1/2 

 full?

Answer 1

First make sure you understand the situation.

Starting point: Tank (T) is 1/8 full,

Operation: ADDING 42 gallons

Ending point: Tank (T) is 3/4 full

Equation: 1/8 T + 42 = 3/4 T

Now you have an equation that you should know how to solve for. Get the variables on the same side by subtracting 1/8 T from both sides.

42 = 3/4 T - 1/8 T

42 = 5/8 T

42/5 = 1/8

42/5 = 8 and 2/5 gallons of water

Now solve for the entire tank or half a tank by adding however many 1/8's you need