SOLUTION: Two fishing boats depart a harbor at the same time, one traveling east, the other south. The eastbound boat travels at a speed 1 mi/h faster than the southbound boat. After six hou

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: Two fishing boats depart a harbor at the same time, one traveling east, the other south. The eastbound boat travels at a speed 1 mi/h faster than the southbound boat. After six hou      Log On


   

Question 833141: Two fishing boats depart a harbor at the same time, one traveling east, the other south. The eastbound boat travels at a speed 1 mi/h faster than the southbound boat. After six hours the boats are 30 mi apart. Find the speed of the southbound boat.
mi/h
Answer by josgarithmetic(39620) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Their travels form a right triangle and the right angle has vertex at the departure location.


Legs of Triangle_____speed_____________time____________distance
eastbound____________r+1______________6_______________(r+1)6
southbound____________r_______________6________________r*6
Hypotenuse______________________________________d%5E2=highlight_green%28%28%28r%2B1%29%2A6%29%5E2%2B%28r%2A6%29%5E2=30%5E2%29

Solve the hypotenuse, Pythagorean relationship equation for r.