SOLUTION: hi I need help with the following word problem: An excursion boat travels upriver to a landing and then returns to its starting point. The trip upriver takes 1.2 hr and the trip

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Question 885800: hi I need help with the following word problem:
An excursion boat travels upriver to a landing and then returns to its starting point. The trip upriver takes 1.2 hr and the trip back takes .9 hr. If the average speed on the return trip is 5 mph faster than on the trip upriver, what is the boats speed upriver?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
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An excursion boat travels upriver to a landing and then returns to its starting point.
The trip upriver takes 1.2 hr and the trip back takes .9 hr.
If the average speed on the return trip is 5 mph faster than on the trip upriver, what is the boats speed upriver?
:
let s = the speed upriver
then
(s+5) = speed down river
:
Write a distance equation; dist = time * speed
dist up = dist down
1.2s = .9(s+5)
1.2s = .9s + 4.5
1.2s - .9s = 4.5
.3s = 4.5
s = 4.5/.3
s = 15 mph is the distance upriver
:
:
Confirm this by finding the distance at each speed, should be equal
1.2(15) = 18 mi
.9(20) = 18 mi