Problema Solution

A boat travels 1 km upstream and 1 km back. The time for the round trip is 5 hrs. The speed of the stream is 5km/hr. What is the speed of the boat in still water?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


v = the speed of the boat in still water

t1 = the time of the downstream travel

t2 = the time of the upstream travel

s = 5 km/h the speed of the stream

d = 1 km the distance traveled in one direction


we will use the formula distance = speed*time (since speed = distance/time)


the time for the round trip is 5 hrs


t1 + t2 = 5 => t2 = 5 - t1


the speed of the boat downstream is v + s = v + 5


t1(v + s) = d


t1(v + 5) = 1 = > t1 = 1/(v + 5)


the speed of the boat upstream is v - s = v - 5


t2(v - s) = d


t2(v - 5) = 1


plug t2 = 5 - t1 into the last equation


(5 - t1)(v - 5) = 1


next plug t1 = 1/(v + 5) into (5 - t1)(v - 5) = 1 we have


(5 - 1/(v + 5))(v - 5) = 1


by solving this equation we find and consider the positive roots since v>0


v = 5.20 km/h


click here to see the step by step solution of the equation


Click to see all the steps



the speed of the boat in still water is 5.20 km/h.