SOLUTION: two boats left an island at the same time to return to their home port. Their average speeds differed by 4 km/h. The faster boat reached port after 3 hours. The slower boat took 30

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Question 921523: two boats left an island at the same time to return to their home port. Their average speeds differed by 4 km/h. The faster boat reached port after 3 hours. The slower boat took 30 minutes longer. Find the average speed of the each boat.
(this is a rate*time=distance problem)
Answer by lwsshak3(11628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Two boats left an island at the same time to return to their home port. Their average speeds differed by 4 km/h. The faster boat reached port after 3 hours. The slower boat took 30 minutes longer. Find the average speed of the each boat.
***
let x=speed of slower boat
x+4=speed of faster boat
speed*travel time=distance(same for both boats)
..
(x+4)*3=x*3.5
3x+12=3.5x
.5x=12
x=24
x+4=28
ave speed of slower boat=24 km/hr
ave speed of faster boat=28 km/hr