document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=56439>Question 56439</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0495012661/algebrahomeworkh>college algebra</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The dreaded word problem. any help?  thanks!\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Two hikers start from the same point and hike in opposite directions around a lake.  The shoreline is 21 miles.  One hiker walks .5 pmh fast than the other hiker.  How fast did each hiker walk if they meet in 3 hours? </SPAN>\n" );
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document.write( "Two hikers start from the same point and hike in opposite directions around a lake.  The shoreline is 21 miles.  One hiker walks .5 mph faster than the other hiker.  How fast did each hiker walk if they meet in 3 hours?<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's think about this, if they are going in opposite directions around a 21 mile lake then you can add their distances to get 21 miles.  The formula for distance is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=highlight%28d=rt%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"highlight%28d=rt%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, where d=distance, r=rate, and t=time.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Both of their t=3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "One's rate is:r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The other's rate is:r+.5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The equation to solve is:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3r+3(r+.5)=21<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3r+3r+1.5=21<BR>\n" );
document.write( "6r+1.5=21<BR>\n" );
document.write( "6r+1.5-1.5=21-1.5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "6r=19.5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "6r/6=19.5/6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "r=3.25<BR>\n" );
document.write( "One went about 3.25 mph<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The other went about 3.25+.5=3.75 mph<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Happy Calculating!!! </SPAN>\n" );
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