Problema Solution

a grain barge travels on a river point A to Point B loading and unloading grain. The barge travels at a rate of 3 mph relative to the water. The river flows downstream at a rate of 1mph. If the trip takes 2 hours longer than the trip downstream, how far is it from point A to point B?

Answer provided by our tutors

traveling downstream:


time = x hrs ;

rate = 3+1 = 4 mph

distance = time*rate = 4x miles


traveling upstream:


time = x+2 hrs ;

rate = 3-1 = 2 mph;

distance = time*rate = 2(x+2)


the traveled downstream = the distance upstream


4x = 2(x+2)


by solving we find


x = 2 hrs


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distance from A to B is 4x = 4*2 = 8 miles.