Question 336753
Two boats left an island at the same time to return to their home port. Their average speeds differ by 4MPH. The faster boat reachers the port after 3hpurs. The slower boat took thirty minutes longer. Find the speed of each boat.
.
Apply the "distance formula"
d = rt
where
d is distance traveled
r is rate or speed
t is time
.
"d" for both boats will be the same.
"30 minutes" = .5 hours
.
Let x = speed of slower boat
then
x+4 = speed of faster boat
.
4 hours = time of faster boat
4+.5 = 4.5 hours = time of slower boat
.
Distance traveled by slower boat:
4.5x
.
Distance traveled by faster boat:
4(x+4)
.
Since the went the same distance, set them equal to each other:
4.5x = 4(x+4)
4.5x = 4x+16
.5x = 16
x = 32 mph (slower boats speed)
.
Faster boats speed:
x+4 = 32+4 = 36 mph