SOLUTION: Adriana's 18-kilometer boat trip downriver took two hours, but the return trip back upstream took three hours. Figure the speed of the boat in still water and the speed of the cur

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Travel -> SOLUTION: Adriana's 18-kilometer boat trip downriver took two hours, but the return trip back upstream took three hours. Figure the speed of the boat in still water and the speed of the cur      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


   



Question 195539: Adriana's 18-kilometer boat trip downriver took two hours, but the return trip back upstream took three hours. Figure the speed of the boat in still water and the speed of the current of the river.
Answer by anantha(86) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
sol:
speed of the boat in still water= x km/h
speed of the current= y km/h
down stream speed=(x+y) km/h
up stream speed=(x-y) km/h
time=distance/speed
according to the problem
total distance=18 km
speed of the boat in down stream=(x+y) km/h
time taken down stream=2hours
distance/speed of down stream= 2h
18/(x+y)=2
multiplying by (x+y) on both sides
18
------ *(x+y)=2*(x+y)
(x+y)
18=2(x+y)
time taken up stream=3hours
distance/speed of upstream=3h
18/(x-y)=3
multiplying by (x-y) on both sides
18
------ *(x-y)=3*(x-y)
(x-y)
18=3(x-y)
2(x+y)=18
dividing by 2 on both sides
2(x+y)/2=18/2
x+y=9 -----(1) equation
3(x-y)=18
dividing by 3 on both sides
3(x-y)/3=18/3
x-y=6 ----(2) equation
solving 1 and 2 equations
x+y=9
x-y=6
------
2x=15
dividing by 2 on both sides
2x/2=15/2
x=7.5
substitute in 1 st equation
x+y=9
7.5+y=9
subtracting 7.5 on both sides
7.5+y-7.5=9-7.5
y=9-7.5
y=1.5
speed of the boat in still water=7.5 km/h
speed of current=1.5 km/h