two boats are traveling towards the same ports from opposite directions. they are 63 miles apart and one boat is traveling 6 mph faster than the other. if the Boats both reach the port in 4 hours and 30 minutes, find the speed for each.

Respuesta :

distance (d) = rate (r) x time (t)

                       Time               Rate                  Distance               Equation

Boat 1:            4.5 hrs               x                           y                        4.5x = y

Boat 2:           4.5 hrs             x + 6                   63 - y                   4.5(x + 6) = 63 - y

Use substitution to solve the system by replacing "y" with 4.5x:

4.5(x + 6) = 63 - 4.5x

4.5x + 27 = 63 - 4.5x

9x + 27 = 63

9x = 36

x = 4

Boat 1: x  = 4 mph

Boat 2: x + 6  = 4 + 6  = 10 mph

Answer: 4 mph, 10 mph