SOLUTION: After a sailboat had been on the water for 3 hours, a change in the wind direction reduced the average speed of the boat by 7 mph. The entire distance sailed was 51 miles. The tota

Algebra ->  Expressions-with-variables -> SOLUTION: After a sailboat had been on the water for 3 hours, a change in the wind direction reduced the average speed of the boat by 7 mph. The entire distance sailed was 51 miles. The tota      Log On


   

Question 526651: After a sailboat had been on the water for 3 hours, a change in the wind direction reduced the average speed of the boat by 7 mph. The entire distance sailed was 51 miles. The total time spent sailing was 5 hours. How far did the sailboat travel in the first 3 hours?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
After a sailboat had been on the water for 3 hours, a change in the wind direction reduced the average speed of the boat by 7 mph.
The entire distance sailed was 51 miles.
The total time spent sailing was 5 hours.
How far did the sailboat travel in the first 3 hours?
:
Let s = the speed of the boat the first 3 hrs
then total time given as 5 hrs, therefore
(s-7) = the speed for the final 2 hrs
:
Write a distance equation: dist = speed * time
:
3s + 2(s-7) = 51
3s + 2s - 14 = 51
5s = 51 + 14
5s = 65
s = 13 mph for the 1st 3 hrs
:
3*13 = 39 mi traveled