SOLUTION: Two boats left an island at the same time to return to their home port. Their average speeds differ by 4MPH. The faster boat reachers the port after 3hpurs. The slower boat took th
Algebra.Com
Question 336753: Two boats left an island at the same time to return to their home port. Their average speeds differ by 4MPH. The faster boat reachers the port after 3hpurs. The slower boat took thirty minutes longer. Find the speed of each boat.
Found 2 solutions by nerdybill, nyc_function:
Answer by nerdybill(7384) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Two boats left an island at the same time to return to their home port. Their average speeds differ by 4MPH. The faster boat reachers the port after 3hpurs. The slower boat took thirty minutes longer. Find the speed of each boat.
.
Apply the "distance formula"
d = rt
where
d is distance traveled
r is rate or speed
t is time
.
"d" for both boats will be the same.
"30 minutes" = .5 hours
.
Let x = speed of slower boat
then
x+4 = speed of faster boat
.
4 hours = time of faster boat
4+.5 = 4.5 hours = time of slower boat
.
Distance traveled by slower boat:
4.5x
.
Distance traveled by faster boat:
4(x+4)
.
Since the went the same distance, set them equal to each other:
4.5x = 4(x+4)
4.5x = 4x+16
.5x = 16
x = 32 mph (slower boats speed)
.
Faster boats speed:
x+4 = 32+4 = 36 mph
Answer by nyc_function(2741) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Fast Boat:
rate = x - 4
time = 3
Slow Boat:
rate = x
NOTE: Time is measure in hours not minutes.
So, 30 minutes = 30/60 = 1/2 = 0.5.
The slow boat took 0.5 longer to reach the port. This means the time for the slow boat is 3 hours + 0.5 or 3.5 hours.
Distances are equal because they are going to the same location leaving the same Island.
Here is your equation:
3(x + 4) = 3.5x
Can you find x now and then proceed to find the speed of each boat?
HINT: Look above for the rate of each boat after finding the value of x.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Two boats left an island at the same time to return to their home port. Their average... (answered by stanbon)
two boats left an island at the same time to return to their home port. Their average... (answered by lwsshak3)
Two cars left Hamilton at the same time, one traveling east and the other west. Their... (answered by Alan3354)
Mr. and Mrs. Davis went on a cruise to a tropical island. They spent a total of 30 hours... (answered by richwmiller)
Mr. and Mrs. Berg went on a cruise to a tropical island. They spent a total of 26 hours... (answered by ikleyn)
2 cars leave a rest stop at the same time and travel south on the same road. 5 hours... (answered by htmentor)
Two airplanes leave Toronto at the same time, one travelling west and the other east.... (answered by nerdybill)
Two cars leave calgary at the same time, travelling in opposite directions. Their average (answered by lwsshak3)
amber and Matteo are travelling separately from their home Calgary to a wedding 400km... (answered by stanbon)