Solving a word problem using a system of linear equations:
A motorboat travels in 456kkm/8 hr hours going upstream and in 534 km in 6 hours going downstream. What is the speed of the boat in still water, and what is the speed of the current?
Call the real speed of boat a, call speed of water current b.
Total distance travelled = travel speed times time.
The travel speed is real boat speed + or - speed of current.
456 = 8(a - b) --> 456/8 = .a - b --> 57 = a - b
534 = 6(a + b) --> 534/6 = a + b --> 89 = a + b
Add together to eliminate b and solve a (real boat speed). Than solve b (current speed).
Note that both a and b are in Km/hr.
Linear Mode
