To determine the capacity of the storage container, let's analyze the situation step by step.
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The farm deposits fertilizer into the storage container at a rate of 1.5 ft³ per week.
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After 5 weeks, the amount of fertilizer added is: \[ 1.5 , \text{ft}^3/\text{week} \times 5 , \text{weeks} = 7.5 , \text{ft}^3 \]
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According to the problem, after these 5 weeks, the container has a total of 15 ft³ of fertilizer. Therefore, before the 5 weeks of deposits, there must have been: \[ 15 , \text{ft}^3 - 7.5 , \text{ft}^3 = 7.5 , \text{ft}^3 \] already in the container.
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Now, for the next 14 weeks, the farm continues to add fertilizer: \[ 1.5 , \text{ft}^3/\text{week} \times 14 , \text{weeks} = 21 , \text{ft}^3 \]
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Therefore, after these 14 additional weeks, the total amount of fertilizer added will be: \[ 15 , \text{ft}^3 + 21 , \text{ft}^3 = 36 , \text{ft}^3 \]
Thus, the capacity of the storage container is 36 ft³.
Final answer: 36 ft³