document.write( "Question 139175: Please help me translate this into a quadratic equation and solve. \r
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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? \n" );
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Algebra.Com's Answer #101548 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! 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? \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Let s = speed of the boat in still water \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "(s-3) = speed upstream \n" ); document.write( "(s+3) = speed downstream \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Write a time equation; Time = dist/speed \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Time upstream + time downstream = 9 hr \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "multiply equation by (s-3)(s+3) to get rid of the denominators: \n" ); document.write( "(s-3)(s+3)* \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "60(s+3) + 60(s-3) = 9(s^2 - 9) \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "60s + 180 + 60s - 180 = 9s^2 - 81 \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "120s = 9s^2 - 81 \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "0 = 9s^2 - 120s - 81 \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Simplify, divide equation by 3, giving us a simple quadratic equation \n" ); document.write( "3s^2 - 40s - 27 = 0 \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "We need to use the quadratic formula to solve for s: a=3; b=-40; c=-27 \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "The positive solution = 13.977 ~ 14 mph \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( ": \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 \n" ); document.write( " |