Answer:
They complete the hill in 8 hours
Step-by-step explanation:
Equations:
Let's call the variables:
Aran can make build the ant hill in A hours
Beatrice can make build the ant hill in B hours
Charlie can make build the ant hill in C hours
In one hour, Aran makes 1/A of the ant hill.
In one hour, Beatrice makes 1/B of the ant hill.
In one hour, Charlie makes 1/C of the ant hill.
Aran and Beatrice build it in 10 hours, thus:
[tex]\displaystyle \frac{1}{A}+\frac{1}{B}=\frac{1}{10}\qquad\qquad[1][/tex]
Similarly:
[tex]\displaystyle \frac{1}{A}+\frac{1}{C}=\frac{1}{12}\qquad\qquad[2][/tex]
[tex]\displaystyle \frac{1}{B}+\frac{1}{C}=\frac{1}{15}\qquad\qquad[3][/tex]
We need to find the time taken for the three ants to build the anthill:
[tex]\displaystyle \frac{1}{A}+\frac{1}{B}+\frac{1}{C}=[/tex]
Adding [1], [2], and [3]:
[tex]\displaystyle \frac{2}{A}+\frac{2}{B}+\frac{2}{C}=\frac{1}{10}+\frac{1}{12}+\frac{1}{15}[/tex]
Adding the fractions (LCM=60):
[tex]\displaystyle \frac{2}{A}+\frac{2}{B}+\frac{2}{C}=\frac{6}{60}+\frac{5}{60}+\frac{4}{60}[/tex]
[tex]\displaystyle \frac{2}{A}+\frac{2}{B}+\frac{2}{C}=\frac{6+5+4}{60}=\frac{15}{60}=\frac{1}{4}[/tex]
Dividing by 2:
[tex]\displaystyle \frac{1}{A}+\frac{1}{B}+\frac{1}{C}=\frac{1}{8}[/tex]
All ants together make 1/8 of the hill, thus they complete the hill in 8 hours
