Question 249846:  During the first part of a canoe trip, Tim covered 60 km at a certain speed.  He then traveled 24 km at a speed that was 4 km/h slower.  If the total time for the trip was 8 hr, what was the speed on each part of the trip? 
 Answer by stanbon(75887)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! During the first part of a canoe trip, Tim covered 60 km at a certain speed.  
He then traveled 24 km at a speed that was 4 km/h slower.  
If the total time for the trip was 8 hr, what was the speed on each part of the trip? 
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1st part DATA: 
distance = 60 km ; rate = x km/h ; time = d/r = 60/x hrs 
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2nd part DATA: 
distance = 24 km ; rate = x-4 km/h ; time = d/r = 24/(x-4) hrs 
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Equation 
time + time = 8 hrs 
60/x + 24(x-4) = 8 
Multiply thru by x(x-4) to get: 
60(x-4) + 24x = 8x(x-4) 
15(x-4) + 6x = 2x(x-4) 
15x-60 + 6x = 2x^2-8x 
2x^2 - 29x + 60 = 0 
x = [29 +- sqrt(29^2 - 4*2*60)]/4 
x = [29 +- sqrt(361)]/4 
x = [29 +- 19]/4 
x = 12 or x = 5/2 
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solution that gives positive results: 
x = 12 km/h (speed on the 1st part) 
x -4 = 8 km/h (speed on the 2nd part) 
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Cheers, 
Stan H. 
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