document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=363778>Question 363778</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The current of a river is 2 miles per hour. It takes a motorboat a total of 3 hours to travel 8 miles upstream and return 8 miles downstream. What is the speed of the boat in still water? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #259436 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=amoresroy><B>amoresroy(361)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-10.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=amoresroy><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=amoresroy><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=259436\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Distance = Speed * Time <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let s = speed of motorboat in still water<BR>\n" );
document.write( "    t = distance / speed\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "    8/(s+2) + 8/(s-2) = 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Multiply both sides by (s+2) (s-2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "     8 (s-2) + 8 (s+2) = 3(s+2) (s-2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "         8s-16 + 8s+16 = 3 (s^2-4)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "                   16S = 3s^2 -12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "                       <BR>\n" );
document.write( " Subtract 16s from both sides<BR>\n" );
document.write( "                     0 = 3s^2 -16s -12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "                       = (3s+2) (s-6)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "            s-6 =0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "            S    = 6 \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The speed of the motorboat is 6 miles per hour. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );