document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=900400>Question 900400</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A kayaker travels downstream 15 miles and then travels back upstream to a point which is 1 mile short of where he originally departed from. The entire trip takes 3 hours. in still water the kayaker paddles at a rate of 10 miles per hour. how fast is the current of the stream? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #545942 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=545942\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A kayaker travels downstream 15 miles and then travels back upstream to a point which is 1 mile short of where he originally departed from. The entire trip takes 3 hours. in still water the kayaker paddles at a rate of 10 miles per hour. how fast is the current of the stream?<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Downstream DATA:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "distance = 15 miles ; rate = 10+c mph ; time = d/r = 15/(10+c) hrs<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Upstream DATA:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "distance = 14 miles ; rate = 10-c mph ; time = d/r = 14/(10-c) hrs<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Equation:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "time + time = 3 hrs.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "15/(10+c) + 14/(10-c) = 3 hrs<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "15*(10-c) + 14(10+c) = 3(100-c^2)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "150-15c + 140+14c = 300 - 3c^2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "290 - c = 300 - 3c^2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3c^2 -c -10 = 0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3c^2 -6c + 5c -10 = 0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3c(c-2) + 5(c -2) = 0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(c-2)(3c+5) = 0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Positive solution:: c = 2 mph (speed of the current)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-------------------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "------------------------ </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );