Algebra Problem

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Created: 2011/12/31, Members: 42, Messages: 22740

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Anni313 Posts: 1,790 Joined: 2004/03/04	2004/12/07, 11:36 PM The current of a river is 2 miles per hour. It takes a motorboat a total of 3 hours to travel 8 miles upstream and return 8 miles downstream. What is the speed of the boat in still water? My answer to this is that the most important thing is that they were able to return home safely. My alternate answer is that I am not allowed to drive the boat. If, for whatever reason, Michael is not able to drive the boat, I am allowed to touch the radio to call for help. No, he won't tell me where the flare gun thing is. Obviously, this means the speed of the boat is zero. I already know from a previous exam that neither of these answers works. What I don't know is the correct answer. Any takers? -------------- Anni ******* Does my ass make these pants look big?

howdiekat Posts: 1,345 Joined: 2003/05/22	2004/12/08, 12:02 AM i'm about to start work on this, but just curious, does it give a direction of the current? -------------- i wish you ill, ice-t. margarine is a liar who announces, "i am butter!"
Anni313 Posts: 1,790 Joined: 2004/03/04	2004/12/08, 12:16 AM Hi Howdie! No, we don't know the directin of the current. I can't believe people can figure this stuff out... -------------- Anni ******* Does my ass make these pants look big?
howdiekat Posts: 1,345 Joined: 2003/05/22	2004/12/08, 12:21 AM i have all my old cal/pre-cal books in my car, i was a math junkie before i became a journalist. i'm rusty but i'll give it a shot for you. -------------- i wish you ill, ice-t. margarine is a liar who announces, "i am butter!"
howdiekat Posts: 1,345 Joined: 2003/05/22	2004/12/08, 01:01 AM ok, i am apparently ultra rusty with this math stuff. if the direction of the current isn't specified, the only thing i can think of is this: the speed of the current going upstream offsets the speed of the current going downstream, so the speed of the boat in still water would just be the total miles divided by travel time. that equals 5.333. i'm probably wrong, it seems like this should have something to do with slope, but i've diagramed it and there is no slope - it's a horizontal line. -------------- i wish you ill, ice-t. margarine is a liar who announces, "i am butter!"
rev8ball Posts: 3,081 Joined: 2001/12/27	2004/12/08, 01:41 AM I know, kat, this seems too simple; this sounds like one of those IQ tricks, but I think you're right. v=d/t, so v = d (the 8+8 miles) / t (3 hrs) = 5.33. Since the problem asks the speed of the boat in still water, the 2 mph of the river doesn't matter. Now, someone just needs to tell me that the boat driver's name was Bob, and he lived in Sweden because the color of the bear fishing in this river was white, so therefore Bob had to have been piloting a Sea Ray with only two skiers... :surprised: -------------- Michael Trample the weak; hurdle the dead! Chaos, Panic, Disorder.... Yes, my work here is done! rev8ball@freetrainers.com
Anni313 Posts: 1,790 Joined: 2004/03/04	2004/12/08, 05:50 AM So, was Bob dating both skiers, or was one of the skiers his sister? I hate story problems, thanks for the help guys. Algebra exam in a scant 4 hours, it's all very exciting. -------------- Anni ******* Does my ass make these pants look big?
	2004/12/08, 10:46 AM The answer here depends on if you're fighting huricane winds. The current would indeed be offset by traveling both ways. But if you pass through the eyewall at the midpoint of the trip then you're going against or with the wind in both directions. Basically, you'd never get there. -------------- I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol Charlie
jonathanweaver Posts: 576 Joined: 2004/06/14	2004/12/08, 11:13 AM I got 6mph. -------------- I will never grow up, just old. Duct tape is like The Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together. - Carl Zwanzig Jonathan
jonathanweaver Posts: 576 Joined: 2004/06/14	2004/12/08, 11:43 AM The current time is not a wash. It will slow you down going against it, and speed you up going with it. Why it works: 6mph + 2mph(current) = 8mph ... 8 miles in 1 hour (With the current) 6mph - 2mph(current) = 4mph ... 8 miles in 2 hours (Against the current) Now to use the formula that Howdie and Michael presented us: 8+4=12 12/2=6 Too bad Anni's already taking her final exam and won't see this until afterward. -------------- I will never grow up, just old. Duct tape is like The Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together. - Carl Zwanzig Jonathan
rev8ball Posts: 3,081 Joined: 2001/12/27	2004/12/08, 11:47 AM Bob was related to Stacey, who was IN the boat. But even though he was dating Terry the skier, he was cheating on her with Barb, who ran the tackle shop back at the pier. Hope that clears everything up.... -------------- Michael Trample the weak; hurdle the dead! Chaos, Panic, Disorder.... Yes, my work here is done! rev8ball@freetrainers.com
	2004/12/08, 11:52 AM Are Terry and Stacy male or female? There are just too many variables. -------------- I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol Charlie
princesslodgey Posts: 1,748 Joined: 2004/02/21	2004/12/08, 01:48 PM I agree with jonathon, that's the answer I got before I scrolled down.
	2004/12/08, 02:09 PM Princess, did you call a buddy at M.I.T to work it out for you like Jonathan did? -------------- I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol Charlie
jonathanweaver Posts: 576 Joined: 2004/06/14	2004/12/08, 03:07 PM Charlie!!! What's said in the Pro Forum should stay there. :cool: I deny EVERYTHING! Id did not have mathematical relations with that man! -------------- I will never grow up, just old. Duct tape is like The Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together. - Carl Zwanzig Jonathan
	2004/12/08, 03:19 PM :big_smile::big_smile: -------------- I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol Charlie
Anni313 Posts: 1,790 Joined: 2004/03/04	2004/12/08, 03:44 PM wow! lol -------------- Anni ******* Does my ass make these pants look big?
t-babe Posts: 441 Joined: 2003/02/20	2004/12/08, 05:32 PM Now where have I heard this statement before. Jonathon, out of curiosity did you go near any of the people in the boat holding a cigar! :big_smile: ============ Quoting from jonathanweaver: I deny EVERYTHING! Id did not have mathematical relations with that man! =============
	2004/12/08, 05:41 PM Go Tbabe go. -------------- I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol Charlie
t-babe Posts: 441 Joined: 2003/02/20	2004/12/08, 05:55 PM Did you inhale?! Jonathon, these are questions you WILL have to face up to. Where's Mr Starr when you need him?
	2004/12/08, 06:09 PM Mathmatical relationships?? Is this content suitable for this message board. I know I'm outraged. -------------- I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol Charlie
jonathanweaver Posts: 576 Joined: 2004/06/14	2004/12/09, 02:46 PM I didn't inhale. I held my breath for the entire 3 hours. :cool::dumbbell: -------------- I will never grow up, just old. Duct tape is like The Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together. - Carl Zwanzig Jonathan
Anni313 Posts: 1,790 Joined: 2004/03/04	2005/01/08, 05:15 PM Horse_rider I appreciate your efforts, however this post is over a month old and this was addressed and solved at that time. -------------- Anni ******* Does my ass make these pants look big?