SOLUTION: *The distance between two piers is s miles. Two boats started moving at the same time with the speeds R and F. How will you find the distance d between them if they travelled for t

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Question 1041313: *The distance between two piers is s miles. Two boats started moving at the same time with the speeds R and F. How will you find the distance d between them if they travelled for t hours:
a) Towards each other
b) In opposite directions
c) In the same direction if the first is slower
d) In the same direction if the first is faster
Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, josgarithmetic:
Answer by ikleyn(52756) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
*The distance between two piers is s miles. Two boats started moving at the same time with the speeds R and F.
How will you find the distance d between them if they traveled for t hours: 

a) Towards each other                               d = s - t*(R + F)

b) In opposite directions                           d = s + t*(R + F)

c) In the same direction if the first is slower     Unclear. Depends on what is this "the same" direction: there are two "the same directions".

d) In the same direction if the first is faster     Unclear. Same notice as the previous.


Answer by josgarithmetic(39614) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
s         distance between piers
R and F   speeds of each boat
t         travel time
d         distance between boats

RT=D, basic travel rate rule (R being the speed of any traveling agent)

(a) Towards each other
Both boats are simply "consuming" the distance between the piers;
d=s-%28Rt%2BFt%29

(b) Away from each other
Both boats are ADDING distance to s;
d=s%2B%28Rt%2BFt%29

(c) Same direction R%3CF
First boat moves Rt
Second boat moves Ft
-
Think of starting point of first boat as a zero location point. Think of start point for second boat as the s length location point.
Distance between both boats begins as s, but INCREASES and boats separate at the rate F-R.
-
d=s%2B%28F-R%29t

(d) Maybe you can try to analyze and solve this one.