SOLUTION: Two ships leave the same harbor at the same time. The first ship heads north at 20 miles per hour and the second ship heads west at 15 miles per hour. Write an expression that give

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Travel -> SOLUTION: Two ships leave the same harbor at the same time. The first ship heads north at 20 miles per hour and the second ship heads west at 15 miles per hour. Write an expression that give      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 258858: Two ships leave the same harbor at the same time. The first ship heads north at 20 miles per hour and the second ship heads west at 15 miles per hour. Write an expression that gives the distance d between the ships after t hours?
Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, richwmiller:
Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Two ships leave the same harbor at the same time. The first ship heads north at 20 miles per hour and the second ship heads west at 15 miles per hour. Write an expression that gives the distance d between the ships after t hours?
---------------
Their positions with the point of departure form a right triangle, which makes it easier.
s+=+sqrt%28%2820t%29%5E2+%2B+%2815t%29%5E2%29
s+=+sqrt%28625t%5E2%29
s = 25t, t in hours, s in miles

Answer by richwmiller(17219) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Their distances travelled will be the legs of a right triangle.
The distance between them will be the hypotenuse.
rt=d
It will be multiple of the 3,4,5 triangle
sqrt%28%28rt%29%5E2%2B%28rt%29%5E2%29%29
sqrt%28%2820t%29%5E2%2B%2815t%29%5E2%29%29
sqrt%28400t%5E2%2B225%5E2%29=sqrt%28625t%5E2%29=25t
25t=d