document.write( "Question 116318This question is from textbook
\n" ); document.write( ": I'm supposed to use the five step method to solve this, but no quite sure what that is. The problem is:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "A sailboat travels 20 miles downstream in three hours. It returns in four hours. Find the speed of the sailboat in still water and the rate of the current.
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Algebra.Com's Answer #84579 by stanbon(75887)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A sailboat travels 20 miles downstream in three hours. It returns in four hours. Find the speed of the sailboat in still water and the rate of the current.
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\n" ); document.write( "Downstream DATA:
\n" ); document.write( "Distance = 20 miles ; time = 3 hrs ; rate = 20/3 mph
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\n" ); document.write( "Upstream DATA:
\n" ); document.write( "Distance = 20 miles ; time = 4 hrs ; rate = 20/4 = 5 mph
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\n" ); document.write( "Let the speed of the boat be \"b\" ; Let the speed of the current be \"c\"
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\n" ); document.write( "EQUATIONS:
\n" ); document.write( "b+c = 20/3 mph
\n" ); document.write( "b-c = 5 mph
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\n" ); document.write( "2b = 20/3 + 15/3 = 35/3
\n" ); document.write( "b = 35/6 = 5 5/6 mph (speed of the boat in still water)
\n" ); document.write( "Substitute to solve for \"c\":
\n" ); document.write( "35/6 + c = 20/3
\n" ); document.write( "c = 40/6-35/6
\n" ); document.write( "c = 5/6 mph (speed of the current)
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\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H.
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