document.write( "Question 904020: A motor boat traveling with the current can go 36 mi in 2 hr. Against the current it takes 3 h to go to the same distance. Find the RATE of the motorboat in calm water. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #548474 by richwmiller(17219)\"\" \"About 
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r*t=d
\n" ); document.write( "r*4-c*4=36,
\n" ); document.write( "r*2+c*2=36
\n" ); document.write( "c = 9/2, r = 27/2
\n" ); document.write( "4,-4,36
\n" ); document.write( "2,2,36
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Solved by pluggable solver: Using Cramer's Rule to Solve Systems with 2 variables

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\n" ); document.write( " \"system%284%2Ax%2B-4%2Ay=36%2C2%2Ax%2B2%2Ay=36%29\"
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\n" ); document.write( " First let \"A=%28matrix%282%2C2%2C4%2C-4%2C2%2C2%29%29\". This is the matrix formed by the coefficients of the given system of equations.
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\n" ); document.write( " Take note that the right hand values of the system are \"36\" and \"36\" which are highlighted here:
\n" ); document.write( " \"system%284%2Ax%2B-4%2Ay=highlight%2836%29%2C2%2Ax%2B2%2Ay=highlight%2836%29%29\"
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\n" ); document.write( " These values are important as they will be used to replace the columns of the matrix A.
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\n" ); document.write( " Now let's calculate the the determinant of the matrix A to get \"abs%28A%29=%284%29%282%29-%28-4%29%282%29=16\". Remember that the determinant of the 2x2 matrix \"A=%28matrix%282%2C2%2Ca%2Cb%2Cc%2Cd%29%29\" is \"abs%28A%29=ad-bc\". If you need help with calculating the determinant of any two by two matrices, then check out this solver.
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\n" ); document.write( " Notation note: \"abs%28A%29\" denotes the determinant of the matrix A.
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\n" ); document.write( " Now replace the first column of A (that corresponds to the variable 'x') with the values that form the right hand side of the system of equations. We will denote this new matrix \"A%5Bx%5D\" (since we're replacing the 'x' column so to speak).
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\n" ); document.write( " \"A%5Bx%5D=%28matrix%282%2C2%2Chighlight%2836%29%2C-4%2Chighlight%2836%29%2C2%29%29\"
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\n" ); document.write( " Now compute the determinant of \"A%5Bx%5D\" to get \"abs%28A%5Bx%5D%29=%2836%29%282%29-%28-4%29%2836%29=216\". Once again, remember that the determinant of the 2x2 matrix \"A=%28matrix%282%2C2%2Ca%2Cb%2Cc%2Cd%29%29\" is \"abs%28A%29=ad-bc\"
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\n" ); document.write( " To find the first solution, simply divide the determinant of \"A%5Bx%5D\" by the determinant of \"A\" to get: \"x=%28abs%28A%5Bx%5D%29%29%2F%28abs%28A%29%29=%28216%29%2F%2816%29=27%2F2\"
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\n" ); document.write( " So the first solution is \"x=27%2F2\"
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\n" ); document.write( " We'll follow the same basic idea to find the other solution. Let's reset by letting \"A=%28matrix%282%2C2%2C4%2C-4%2C2%2C2%29%29\" again (this is the coefficient matrix).
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\n" ); document.write( " Now replace the second column of A (that corresponds to the variable 'y') with the values that form the right hand side of the system of equations. We will denote this new matrix \"A%5By%5D\" (since we're replacing the 'y' column in a way).
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\n" ); document.write( " \"A%5Bx%5D=%28matrix%282%2C2%2C4%2Chighlight%2836%29%2C2%2Chighlight%2836%29%29%29\"
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\n" ); document.write( " Now compute the determinant of \"A%5By%5D\" to get \"abs%28A%5By%5D%29=%284%29%2836%29-%2836%29%282%29=72\".
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\n" ); document.write( " To find the second solution, divide the determinant of \"A%5By%5D\" by the determinant of \"A\" to get: \"y=%28abs%28A%5By%5D%29%29%2F%28abs%28A%29%29=%2872%29%2F%2816%29=9%2F2\"
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\n" ); document.write( " So the second solution is \"y=9%2F2\"
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\n" ); document.write( " Final Answer:
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\n" ); document.write( " So the solutions are \"x=27%2F2\" and \"y=9%2F2\" giving the ordered pair (27/2, 9/2)
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\n" ); document.write( " Once again, Cramer's Rule is dependent on determinants. Take a look at this 2x2 Determinant Solver if you need more practice with determinants.
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