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Lesson 25, 2nd Level.

Word problems that lead to
equations with fractions

Back to Level 1

Same time problem

Total time problem

Job problem

Example 3.  Same time problem:  Upstream-Downstream.

First, let us explain the meaning of "upstream" and "downstream."

When a boat travels in the same direction as the current, we say that it is traveling downstream.

downstream

Thus if b is the speed of the boat in still water, and c is the speed of the current, then its total speed is

Downstream speed = b + c

When a boat travels against the current, it travels upstream.

upstream

In this case, its total speed is

Upstream speed = bc

Problem.   The speed of a boat in still water is 30 mph.  It takes the same time for the boat to travel 5 miles upstream as it does to travel 10 miles downstream.  Find the speed of the current.

Solution.  The key to this type of problem is same time.  That will give the equation,

Time upstream = Time downstream

Now, speed, or velocity, is distance divided by time -- so many miles per hour:

v  = d
t

Therefore,

t  = d
v

The equation will be

  Time upstream = Time downstream
 
Distance upstream
Speed upstream 
= Distance downstream
  Speed downstream
 
        Let x be the speed of the current.  Then according to the problem:
 
   _5_  
30 − x
=    10   
30 + x
 
        Therefore,
5(30 + x) = 10(30 − x)
 
150 + 5x = 300 − 10x
 
5x + 10x = 300 − 150
 
15x = 150
 
x = 10 mph

Problem 5.   The speed of a boat in still water is 15 mi/hr.  If the boat travels 8 miles downstream in the same time it takes to travel 4 miles upstream, what is the speed of the current?

To see the equation, pass your mouse over the colored area.
To cover the answer again, click "Refresh" ("Reload").
But do the problem yourself first!

  Time upstream  = Time downstream
 
Distance upstream
Speed upstream  
 = Distance downstream
  Speed downstream
 
        Let x be the speed of the current.  Then according to the problem:
 
   _4_  
15 − x
 =     8    
15 + x
 
4(15 + x)  = 8(15 − x)
 
60 + 4x  = 120 − 8x
 
4x + 8x  = 120 − 60
 
12x  = 60
 
x  = 5 mph

Problem 6.   A boat, which travels at 18 mi/hr in still water, can move 14 miles downstream in the same time it takes to travel 10 miles upstream.  Find the speed of the current.

  Distance upstream
Speed upstream  
 =  Distance downstream
  Speed downstream
 
   _10_  
18 − x
 =     14   
18 + x
 
10(18 + x)  =  14(18 − x)
 
180 + 10x  =  252 − 14x
 
10x + 14x  =  252 − 180
 
24x  =  72
 
x  =  3 mph

Problem 7.   Train A has a speed 15 mi/hr greater than train B.  If train A travels 150 miles in the same time train B travels 120 miles, what are the speeds of the two trains?

Solution.   Let x be the speed of train A.  Then the speed of train B is x − 15.

  Train A's time = Train B's time
 
A's distance
A's speed  
= B's distance
  B's speed
 
150
x  
=   120  
x − 15
 
150(x − 15) = 120x
 
150x − 150· 15 = 120x
 
30x = 150· 15
 
x = 150· 15
   30
 
  = 150
  2 
 
x = 75 mph
 
x − 15 = 60 mph

Problem 8.   A train travels 30 mi/hr faster than a car.  If the train covers 120 miles in the same time the car covers 80 miles, what is the speed of each of them?

Solution.   Let x be the speed of the train.  Then the speed of the car is x − 30.

  Train's time = Car's time
 
Train's distance
Train's speed  
= Car's distance
  Car's speed
 
120
x  
=    80   
x − 30
 
120(x − 30) = 80x
 
120x − 120· 30 = 80x
 
40x = 120· 30
 
x = 120· 30
   40
 
  = 3· 30
 
x = 90 mph
 
x − 30 = 60 mph

Example 4.  Total time problem.   Katrina drove her car to Boston at a speed of 100 kph (kilometers per hour).  She drove back at 75 kph.  The total driving time was 7 hours.  How far away was Boston?

Solution.   Let x be the distance to Boston.  Then

Time going + Time returning = Total time.

Again, time is

time problem      
time problem = 7.  
 
time problem = 7. x is a common factor.
 
word problem = 7. Lesson 24 of Arithmetic
 
x = word problem Lesson 9, Example 6.
  = 300 km.  

Problem 9.   You have exactly h hours at your disposal.  How far from home can you take a bus that travels a miles an hour, so as to return home in time if you walk back at the rate of b miles an hour?

Solution.   Let x = that distance.  Then

Time going + Time returning = Total time.

x
a
 + x
b
 =  h
 
bx + ax  =  hab
 
(a + b)x  =  hab
 
x  =  _hab_
a + b

Example 5.   Job problem.   Raymond can do a job in 3 hours, while it takes Robert 2 hours.  How long will it take them if they work together?

Solution.   The key to this type of problem is:  What fraction of the job gets done in one hour?

For example, if a job takes 3 hours, then in one hour, 1-3 will get done.

In general, if a job takes x hours, then in one hour, 1-x will get done.

So, let x answer the question.  Let x be how long will it take them if they work together.  Then 1-x is that fraction of the job that gets done in one hour.

We have,

  1
x
  =   1
3
 +   1
2

For in one hour, Raymond does 1-3 of the job, and Robert, 1-2.

Since x, or its reciprocal, is already isolated on the left, simply add the fractions on the right:

  1
x
  =   2 + 3
   6
 =   5
6

Therefore, on taking reciprocals,

  x  =   6
5
  =  1 1
5
 hours.

Problem 10.   Carlos can do a certain job in three days, while it takes Alec six days.  If they work together, how long will it take them?

Let x be that time.  Here is the equation:

   1
x
  =   1
3
  +   1
6
 
 
      =   2  +  1
   6
 
 
      =    1 
 2

Therefore,

  x   =   2 days.

Problem 11.   If Jane can do a certain job in 6 hours, but it takes Ana only 4 hours, how long will it take them if they work together?

  1
x
 =  1
6
  +   1
4
 
 
     =  2  +  3
   12
 
 
  1
x
 =   5 
12
 
  x  =  12
 5
 =  2 2
5
hours.

Problem 12.   Two people working together can complete a job in six hours.  If one of them works twice as fast as the other, how long would it take the faster one working alone?

Solution.   Let x = How long it takes the faster one.

Then the other takes 2x.

Here is the equation:

  1
6
 =  1
x
 +   1 
2x
 
         The LCM is 6x.  Here is the cleared equation:
 
  x  =  6 + 3
 
     =  9 hours,

Problem 13.   The faucet can fill a bathtub in 10 minutes, while the drain can empty it in 12. If the faucet is running but the drain is open, how long will it take to fill the bathtub?

  1
x
 =   1 
10
  −    1 
12
 
 
     =  6  −  5
   60
 
 
     =   1 
60
 
  x  =  60 minutes.
end

Next Lesson:  Radicals:  Rational and irrational numbers

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