SOLUTION: Basically it's something to do with 5- step method- Please help me! * A sail boat travels 20 miles downstream in 3hours. It returns in 4 hours. Find the speed of the sailboat in

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Finance -> SOLUTION: Basically it's something to do with 5- step method- Please help me! * A sail boat travels 20 miles downstream in 3hours. It returns in 4 hours. Find the speed of the sailboat in      Log On

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Question 129937This question is from textbook algebra
: Basically it's something to do with 5- step method- Please help me!
* A sail boat travels 20 miles downstream in 3hours. It returns in 4 hours. Find the speed of the sailboat in still water and the rate of the current.*

What I did was try and gather the information given than got stuck barely half way through. Always apprecciate the help I can get. Please and Thank You=) This question is from textbook algebra

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
There are 2 equations:
d+=+%28b+%2B+c%29%2At boat going with the current
and
d+=+%28b+-+c%29%2At boat going against the current
where d=distance
b= boat's speed in still water
c= current's speed
20+=+%28b+%2B+c%29%2A3
20+=+%28b+-+c%29%2A4
3b+%2B+3c+=+20
4b+-+4c+=+20
divide both sides of the 2nd equation by 4
b+-+c+=+5
b+=+c+%2B+5
substitute this value of b in the 1st equation
3%2A%28c+%2B+5%29+%2B+3c+=+20
3c+%2B+15+%2B+3c+=+20
6c+=+5
c+=+5%2F6
b+=+c+%2B+5
b+=+5%2F6+%2B+30%2F6
b+=+35%2F6
The speed of the boat in still water is 35/6 mi/hr
The speed of the current is 5/6 mi/hr
check answer:
20+=+%28b+%2B+c%29%2A3
20+=+%2840%2F6%29%2A3
20+=+20
20+=+%28b+-+c%29%2A4
20+=+%2830%2F6%29%2A4
20+=+20
OK