document.write( "Question 139175: Please help me translate this into a quadratic equation and solve. \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The Hudson River flows at a rate of 3 miles per hour. A patrol boat travels 60 miles upriver, and returns in a total time of 9 hours. What is the speed of the boat in still water?
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Algebra.Com's Answer #101548 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
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he Hudson River flows at a rate of 3 miles per hour. A patrol boat travels 60 miles upriver, and returns in a total time of 9 hours. What is the speed of the boat in still water?
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\n" ); document.write( "Let s = speed of the boat in still water
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\n" ); document.write( "(s-3) = speed upstream
\n" ); document.write( "(s+3) = speed downstream
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\n" ); document.write( "Write a time equation; Time = dist/speed
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\n" ); document.write( "Time upstream + time downstream = 9 hr
\n" ); document.write( "\"60%2F%28%28s-3%29%29\" + \"60%2F%28%28s%2B3%29%29\" = 9
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\n" ); document.write( "multiply equation by (s-3)(s+3) to get rid of the denominators:
\n" ); document.write( "(s-3)(s+3)*\"60%2F%28%28s-3%29%29\" + (s-3)(s+3)*\"60%2F%28%28s%2B3%29%29\" = 9(s-3)(s+3)
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\n" ); document.write( "60(s+3) + 60(s-3) = 9(s^2 - 9)
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\n" ); document.write( "60s + 180 + 60s - 180 = 9s^2 - 81
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\n" ); document.write( "120s = 9s^2 - 81
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\n" ); document.write( "0 = 9s^2 - 120s - 81
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\n" ); document.write( "Simplify, divide equation by 3, giving us a simple quadratic equation
\n" ); document.write( "3s^2 - 40s - 27 = 0
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\n" ); document.write( "We need to use the quadratic formula to solve for s: a=3; b=-40; c=-27
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\n" ); document.write( "The positive solution = 13.977 ~ 14 mph
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\n" ); document.write( "Check solution using 14 mph
\n" ); document.write( "60/17 + 60/11 =
\n" ); document.write( "3.529 + 5.454 = 8.983 ~ 9 hrs
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