document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1182752>Question 1182752</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A small boat sends a distress signal giving its location as 10 miles from shore in choppy seas and says it is making only 5 knots.  A Coast Guard boat is dispatched from shore to give aid: it averages 20 knots.  How long before it meets the disabled boat if they are traveling toward each other?  How far did each travel?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #812824 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13214)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><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=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=812824\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The ratio of the speeds of the two boats is 20:5 = 4:1, so the ratio of distances traveled is 4:1.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "If your mental arithmetic is good, you can solve that mentally -- the small boat travels 2 of the 10 miles and the Coast Guard boat travels 8.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Or if you need to use formal algebra, using the ratio 4:1 of the distances traveled by the two boats, the small boat travels x miles and the Coast Guard boat travels 4x miles, and the total distance traveled is 10 miles:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+4x=10<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5x=10<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4x=8<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The required time can be determined using the distance and speed of either boat: 2 miles at 5 knots for the small boat or 8 miles at 20 knots for the Coast Guard boat.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Of course you need to deal with the conversion between knots and miles per hour; that part I leave to you.<br><BR>\n" );
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