Camille can swim against the current at 1.5 m/s and with the current at 3.5m/s write a system of equations that expressess these facts, ad find Camille's speed in still water.
2007-05-31 09:54:56 · 4 answers · asked by joe blow 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Call her speed S and the current's speed C. S - C = 1.5 m/s. S + C = 3.5 m/s. Mathematically, you can solve these equations by subtracting one from the other: (S - C = 1.5) - (S + C = 3.5) = -2C = -2. Dividing by 2 gives C = 1, and plugging that back into S - C = 1.5 gives S - 1 = 1.5 --> S = 2.5, which is her speed in still water.
I'd like to point out, though, that you could just take a common-sense approach and figure that her speed in still water should be right in between her speeds with and against the current, and get 2.5 that way. That's how I'd do it in any situation EXCEPT in an algebra test.
2007-05-31 10:00:33 · answer #1 · answered by Amy F 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
speed of Camille in still water - speed of current = speed of Camille against current.
x - 3.5 = 1.5
x = 5
Speed of Camille in still water is 5 m/s
2007-05-31 17:03:00 · answer #2 · answered by feiyingx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
camille+current=3.5
camille-current=1.5
2 camilla=5
camilla's speed=5/2=2.5 m/s
2007-05-31 16:59:40 · answer #3 · answered by iyiogrenci 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1.5 m/s is the resultant speed of Camille
C - 3.5 = 1.5
C = 5m/s
speed of Camille in still water is 5m/s
2007-05-31 17:12:46 · answer #4 · answered by 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋