Shoreline Travel operates a 3hr paddle boat cruise on the Missouri River. If the speed of the boat in still water is 12 mph, how far upriver can the pilot travel against a 5 mph current before it is time to turn around?
To find the distance the pilot can travel upriver before turning around, we need to consider the speed of the boat in still water and the speed of the current.
Let's break down the problem:
1. The speed of the boat in still water is given as 12 mph.
2. The speed of the current is given as 5 mph.
Since the boat is traveling upriver, we need to find the effective speed of the boat against the current. This can be found by subtracting the speed of the current from the speed of the boat in still water.
Effective speed against the current = Speed in still water - Speed of the current
Effective speed against the current = 12 mph - 5 mph
Effective speed against the current = 7 mph
Now, the distance the boat can travel before turning around can be calculated using the formula:
Distance = Speed × Time
Given that the boat's travel time is 3 hours, we can calculate the distance as:
Distance = Effective speed against the current × Time
Distance = 7 mph × 3 hours
Distance = 21 miles
Therefore, the pilot can travel 21 miles upriver before it is time to turn around.
since time = distance/speed,
d/(12-5) + d/(12+5) = 3
now just solve for d. Assuming the round trip takes 3 hours.