SOLUTION: Please help me! I need to solve this word problem using the eliminating method. A steamboaat went 8 miles upstream in 1 hour. The return trip took only 30 minuts. Assume that th

Question 699652: Please help me! I need to solve this word problem using the eliminating method.
A steamboaat went 8 miles upstream in 1 hour. The return trip took only 30 minuts. Assume that the speed of the current and the direction were constant during both parts of the trip. Find the speed of the boat in still water and the speed of the current.
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A steamboat went 8 miles upstream in 1 hour.
The return trip took only 30 minutes.
Assume that the speed of the current and the direction were constant during both parts of the trip.
Find the speed of the boat in still water and the speed of the current.
:
Let s = the boat speed in still water
Let c = the rate of the current
then
(s-c) = effective speed upstream
and
(s+c) = effective speed downstream
:
Change 30 min to .5 hr
Write a distance equation for each way, dist = time * speed
1(s-c) = 8
.5(s+c) = 8
:
The 1st equation we can ignore the 1,
the second equation divide both sides by .5
s - c = 8
s + c = 16
--------------adding eliminates c, find s
2s = 24
s = 12 mph in still water
:
find c
12 + c = 16
c = 16-12
c = 4 mph is the current
:
:
:
Check this
1(12 - 4) = 8
and
.5(12 + 4) = 8
RELATED QUESTIONS
Can you help me set up a rational equation to solve this word problem algebraically... (answered by josmiceli)

Can you help me set up a rational equation to solve this word problem algebraically... (answered by josgarithmetic,MathTherapy)

Please help me with this word problem! I've been trying it for about 30 minutes and can't (answered by ikleyn)

Please help me solve this problem. I need to solve by using the elimination method.... (answered by MathLover1)

I need to solve this word problem in the form of a quadratic equation and am having... (answered by dolly)

Hello, I need help solving this word problem using a system of equations: A... (answered by scott8148)

Karen�s boat has a top speed of 10 miles per hour in still water. While traveling on a... (answered by josmiceli)

This is a Rational Word Problem but i think it still goes under this category. The word... (answered by josmiceli,solver91311)

Please help me solve this. I need to put it in standard form then solve for x using the... (answered by checkley77,nerdybill)