document.write( "Question 177648: Joann took 20 miuntes to drive her boat upstream to water-ski at her favorite spot. Coming back later in the day, at the same boat speed, took her 15 minutes. If the current in that part of the river is 5 km per hr, what was her boat speed? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #132711 by gonzo(654)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! equation you are looking for is rate * time = distance. \n" ); document.write( "going upstream she is working against the current (combined rate = boat minus current) \n" ); document.write( "coming downstream she is working with the current (combined rate = boat plus current). \n" ); document.write( "let x = the rate of the boat. \n" ); document.write( "let d = the distance. \n" ); document.write( "going upstream: \n" ); document.write( "(x-5)*20 = d \n" ); document.write( "coming downstream: \n" ); document.write( "(x+5)*15 = d \n" ); document.write( "since both equations equal d, then they are equal to each other, so: \n" ); document.write( "(x-5)*20 = (x+5)*15 \n" ); document.write( "expanding, this becomes: \n" ); document.write( "20*x - 100 = 15*x + 75 \n" ); document.write( "subtract 15*x from both sides and add 100 to both sides to get: \n" ); document.write( "20*x - 15*x = 75 + 100 \n" ); document.write( "which becomes: \n" ); document.write( "5*x = 175 \n" ); document.write( "divide both sides by 5 to get: \n" ); document.write( "x = 35 miles per hour \n" ); document.write( "this means that the boat's speed is 35 miles per hour. \n" ); document.write( "--- \n" ); document.write( "to prove this is correct, substitute in the original equation of: \n" ); document.write( "(x-5)*20 = (x+5)*15 \n" ); document.write( "which becomes: \n" ); document.write( "(35-5)*20 = (35+5)*15 \n" ); document.write( "which becomes: \n" ); document.write( "30*20 = 40*15 \n" ); document.write( "divide both sides by 15 to get: \n" ); document.write( "30/15*20 = 40 \n" ); document.write( "which becomes: \n" ); document.write( "2*20 = 40 \n" ); document.write( "which is true so the values for the boat speed are good. \n" ); document.write( "--- \n" ); document.write( "your answer is: \n" ); document.write( "speed of the boat is 35 miles per hour. \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |