SOLUTION: Trevon paddled 27 miles downstream in his boat.the speed of the water was 3 miles per hour. Mark paddled 10 miles upstream in his boat. The speed of the water current was 2 miles p

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Question 960322: Trevon paddled 27 miles downstream in his boat.the speed of the water was 3 miles per hour. Mark paddled 10 miles upstream in his boat. The speed of the water current was 2 miles per hour. The total trip took 11 hours and 20 minutes. About how much time did the first part of the trip take?
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, josmiceli:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39620) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The description is not coherent. Trevon, Mark, water currents 3 and 2 mph. No "total trip".

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +a+ = Trevor's paddling speed in still water
Let +b+ = Mark's paddling speed in still water
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Trevor's equation:
(1) +27+=+%28+a+%2B+3+%29%2At%5B1%5D+
Mark's equation:
(2) +10+=+%28+b+-+2+%29%2At%5B2%5D+
(3) +t%5B1%5D+%2B+t%5B2%5D+=+11.333+
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This can't be solved unless they both
paddle at the same speed -I'll have to
assume that +a+=+b+
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(1) +t%5B1%5D+=+27+%2F+%28%28+a+%2B+3+%29%29+
(2) +t%5B2%5D+=+10+%2F+%28%28+a+-+2+%29%29+
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+27+%2F+%28%28+a+%2B+3+%29%29+%2B+10+%2F+%28%28+a+-+2+%29%29+=+11.333+
Multiply both sides by +%28+a+%2B+3+%29%2A%28+a+-+2+%29+

+27a+-+54+%2B+10a+%2B+30+=+%28+34%2F3+%29%2A%28+a%5E2+%2B+2+-+6+%29+
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You can finish: solve for +a+, then find +t%5B1%5D+