<PRE><B>Question 1114961</B>
boat traveled 12 feet going south and 50 going west, totaling 62 feet in 16 seconds. heading south the boat traveled an average speed 3 feet per second less than its speed heading west what was the speed of the boat heading west? 
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south dist = 12 ft ; rate = r-3 ft/sec ; time = 12/(r-3) sec
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west dist = 50 ft ; rate = r ft/sec ; time = 50/r sec
Equation:
time + time = 16 seconds
12/(r-3) + 50/r = 16
12r + 50(r-3) = 16r(r-3)
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16r^2-48r = 12r + 50r-150
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16r^2 - 110r + 150 = 0
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8r^2 - 55r + 75 = 0
(r-5)(8r-15) = 0
r = 5 ft/sec (speed going south)
r-3 = 2 ft/sec (speed going west)
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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