SOLUTION: ¿After a sailboat had been on the water for 2 h. A change in the wind direction reduced the average speed of the boat by 2 mph. The entire distance sailed was 60 mi. The total time

2 hours at the average speed of x miles per hour

and 2 hours at the speed of (x-2) mph.


The distance equation


    2x + 2*(x-2) = 60

    4x       - 4 = 60

    4x           = 60 + 4 = 64

     x           = 64/4 = 16.


ANSWER.  The distance under the question was  2*16 = 32 miles.

Let the distance covered by the sailboat in the first 2 hours, be D

Then distance covered by the sailboat in the last 2 hours, was: 60 - D

We then get the following SPEED equation: 

D - (60 - D) = 4 ------- Multiplying by LCD, 2

D - 60 + D = 4

2D = 64

Distance covered by the sailboat in the first 2 hours, or