SOLUTION: In a still lake you kayak at a speed of 4 mph. Today you are kayaking upstream in a river with a current of 2 mph. Eight miles upstream a fisherman loses control of one of his nets

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Question 769829: In a still lake you kayak at a speed of 4 mph. Today you are kayaking upstream in a river with a current of 2 mph. Eight miles upstream a fisherman loses control of one of his nets and several of the floats he uses to keep the nets in position go sailing down the river.

How long will it be until you meet the floats? How many miles from the fisherman will you be at that point?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +d+ = distance in miles that you kayak until
you meet the floats
Let +t+ = the time in hours until you meet the floats
--------------------
(1) +d+=+%28+4+-+2+%29%2At+
(1) +d+=+2t+
-------------------
Equation for the floats:
(2) +8+-+d+=+2t+
----------------
(1) +t+=+d%2F2+
Substitute (1) into (2)
(2) +8+-+d+=+2%2A%28+d%2F2+%29+
(2) +8+-+d+=+d+
(2) +2d+=+8+
+d+=+4+
and
(1) +t+=+d%2F2+
(1) +t+=+2+
You will meet the floats in 2 hrs
You will be +8-4+=+4+ mi from
the fisherman at that point