document.write( "Question 318787: A pontoon boat moves 6 km/h in still water. It travels 30 km upriver and 30 km downriver in total time of 18 hrs. What is the speed of the current? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #228197 by CharlesG2(834) ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! A pontoon boat moves 6 km/h in still water. It travels 30 km upriver and 30 km downriver in total time of 18 hrs. What is the speed of the current?\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "6 km/h in still water \n" ); document.write( "30 km upriver (against the current) \n" ); document.write( "30 km downriver (with the current) \n" ); document.write( "total time 18 hrs\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "let x = speed of boat = 6 km/h \n" ); document.write( "let y = speed of the current \n" ); document.write( "let x + y = speed of boat plus the speed of the current (downriver) \n" ); document.write( "(current speeds up boat) \n" ); document.write( "x + y = 6 + y \n" ); document.write( "let x - y = speed of boat minus the speed of the current (upriver) \n" ); document.write( "(current slows down boat) \n" ); document.write( "x - y = 6 - y \n" ); document.write( "D distance = R rate * T time \n" ); document.write( "30 = (6 + y)T = 6T + yT --> T = 30/(6 + y) \n" ); document.write( "30 = (6 - y)(18 - T) = 108 - 6T - 18y + yT (used FOIL) \n" ); document.write( "6T + yT = 108 - 6T - 18y + yT \n" ); document.write( "6T = 108 - 6T - 18y \n" ); document.write( "12T = 108 - 18y \n" ); document.write( "12T + 18y = 108 \n" ); document.write( "12 * 30/(6 + y) + 18y = 108 \n" ); document.write( "12 * 30 + 18y(6 + y) = 108(6 + y) \n" ); document.write( "360 + 108y + 18y^2 = 648 + 108y \n" ); document.write( "360 + 18y^2 = 648 \n" ); document.write( "18y^2 = 288 \n" ); document.write( "y^2 = 16 \n" ); document.write( "y = 4 km/h = speed of the current \n" ); document.write( "D distance = R rate * T time \n" ); document.write( "downriver --> 30 = (6 + y)T \n" ); document.write( "30 = (6 + 4)T \n" ); document.write( "30 = 10T \n" ); document.write( "3 = T \n" ); document.write( "upriver --> 30 = (6 - y)(18 - T) \n" ); document.write( "30 = (6 - 4)(18 - 3) \n" ); document.write( "30 = 2 * 15 \n" ); document.write( "30 = 30 \n" ); document.write( "so speed of current is 4km/h, they took 3 hours to go downriver and 15 hours to go upriver \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |