document.write( "Question 266575: A motorboat can maintain a constant speed of 16 miles per hour relative to the water. The boat makes a trip upstrem to a certain point in 20 minutes, the return trip takes 15 minutes. What is the speed of the current?
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document.write( "Thanks for any help you can provide,
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document.write( "orchidia@tampabay.rr.com
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Algebra.Com's Answer #195982 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) You can put this solution on YOUR website! A motorboat can maintain a constant speed of 16 miles per hour relative to the water. \n" ); document.write( "The boat makes a trip upstream to a certain point in 20 minutes, the return trip takes 15 minutes. \n" ); document.write( "What is the speed of the current? \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Change 20 min to \n" ); document.write( "Change 15 min to \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Let c = rate of the current \n" ); document.write( "then \n" ); document.write( "(16-c) = rate upstream \n" ); document.write( "and \n" ); document.write( "(16+c) = rate downstream \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Assume the trip up and the trip back were the same distance \n" ); document.write( "Write a distance equation: dist = time * rate \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Dist upstream = dist downstream \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides by 12, to get rid of the denominators, results: \n" ); document.write( "3(16+c) = 4(16-c) \n" ); document.write( "48 + 3c = 64 - 4c \n" ); document.write( "3c + 4c = 64 - 48 \n" ); document.write( "7c = 16 \n" ); document.write( "c = \n" ); document.write( "c = 2.2857 mph is the current \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Check solution by finding the distance of each trip (should be equal) \n" ); document.write( ".25(16+2.2857) = 4.57 mi \n" ); document.write( ".333(16-2.2857) = 4.57 mi \n" ); document.write( " |