SOLUTION: Two fishing boats depart a harbor at the same time, one traveling east, the other south. The eastbound boat travels at a speed 2 mi/h faster than the southbound boat. After 3 h the

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: Two fishing boats depart a harbor at the same time, one traveling east, the other south. The eastbound boat travels at a speed 2 mi/h faster than the southbound boat. After 3 h the      Log On


   

Question 1034900: Two fishing boats depart a harbor at the same time, one traveling east, the other south. The eastbound boat travels at a speed 2 mi/h faster than the southbound boat. After 3 h the boats are 30 mi apart. Find the speed of the southbound boat.
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
               RATE        TIME      DISTANCE
EASTward        r+2         3        (r+2)*3
SOUTHward        r          3         r*3
HYPOTENUSE                             30


The "hypotenuse" is not simply a total distance for the time as if all travel were in one direction. The two directions are legs of a right triangle. Distance column data must fit to Pythagorean Right Triangle Theorem.

highlight_green%28%28%28r%2B2%29%2A3%29%5E2%2B%28r%2A3%29%5E2=30%5E2%29
The algebraic steps are left for you to do.