SOLUTION: Two fishing boats depart a harbor at the same time, one traveling east, the other south. The eastbound boat travels at a speed 3 mi/h faster that than the southbound boat. After tw
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Question 799778: Two fishing boats depart a harbor at the same time, one traveling east, the other south. The eastbound boat travels at a speed 3 mi/h faster that than the southbound boat. After two hours the boats are 30 mi apart. Find the speed of the southbound boat.
I started to set up the equation but am having trouble. I am not sure what to put in the equation for time and is 30 mi the correct number for distance? This is what I have so far.
Boat 1 rate: x+3
Boat 2 rate: x Answer by richwmiller(17219) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! we are forming a right triangle with the hypotenuse the distance apart of the boats.
the time is 2 hours
2*(x+3) distance of the eastbound boat
2x distance of the southbound boat
(2x)^2+ (2x+6)^2=30^2
4x^2+4x^2+24x+36=900
8x^2+24x+36 = 900
8x^2+24x-864 = 0
x=9 speed of the south bound boat
