SOLUTION: A whale swimming against an ocean current traveled 60 mi in 2 h. Swimming in the opposite direction, with the current, the wahel was able to travel the same distance in 1.5 h. Find
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Question 539568: A whale swimming against an ocean current traveled 60 mi in 2 h. Swimming in the opposite direction, with the current, the wahel was able to travel the same distance in 1.5 h. Find the speed of the whale in calm water and the rate of the ocean current. Answer by mananth(16946) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Whale speed =x mph
current speed =y mph
against current , x-y 2 hours
with current , x+y 1.5 hours
Distance = same= 60 miles
t=d/r
60 / ( x - y )= 2.00
2 ( x - y ) = 60.00
2 x -2 y = 60 ....................1
60 / ( x + y )= 1.50
1.50 ( x + y ) = 60
1.50 x + 1.50 y = 60 ...............2
Multiply (1) by 3.00
Multiply (2) by 4.00
we get
6 x + -6 y = 180
6 x + 6 y = 240
12 x = 420
/ 12
x = 35 mph
plug value of x in (1)
2 x -2 y = 60
70 -2 y = 60
-2 y = 60 -70
-2 y = -10
y = 5 mph
Whale 35 mph
current 5 mph
