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(Motion, Wind and Water Current Problems) Problems Involving Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables

Lecture notes on Motion, Wind and Water Current Problems Involving Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables

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Reno Baliguat
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67 views

(Motion, Wind and Water Current Problems) Problems Involving Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables

Lecture notes on Motion, Wind and Water Current Problems Involving Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables

Uploaded by

Reno Baliguat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Discussion Guide: (Motion, Wind and Water Current Problems)

How do we solve motion problems involving system of linear equations in two variables?

Illustrative Examples:
1. Train A leaves Station X and travels east at 30 kph. Two hours later, Train B leaves the
same station and travels in the same direction on a parallel track at 45 kph. At what point
will the faster train overtake the slower train?

Representation
The problem is all about two trains traveling in the same direction with the same starting
point and differs in the amount of time traveled. Here, we may illustrate the problem
using a drawing.
Train A
30 kph Time = t + 2 hours
Train B
Station X

overtakes
Train B 45 kph Time = t hours
Train A

The illustration shows that the trains traveled at the same distance and train A travels 2
hours longer than train B.

We let d = distance traveled by both trains when train B overtakes train A


t = number of hours it takes train B to travel before it overtakes train A

We will use a table to illustrate the distance traveled by both trains.

Distance = rate x time


Train A d 30 t+2
Train B d 45 t

Equation
Since there are two variables involved, we need two equations.

Equation 1 equation of the distance traveled by train A ⇒ d = 30(t + 2)


Equation 2 equation of the distance traveled by train B ⇒ d = 45t

Solution
We can solve the system by substitution:
d=30 (t +2)
45t=30(t +2)
45t=30 t+60
15t=60
t=4
Since we are asked at what point will the faster train overtakes the slower train it means we
are going to solve for the distance traveled by train B. We can use d = 45t,
d=45t
d=45(4)
So we have d=180
Conclusion
Therefore, Train B traveled 180 km before it overtakes Train A.

2. Jonathan drove his car from A to B at 81 km/h. His car broke down and he returned by
bus at 54 km/h. His total traveling time was 5 hours. How long was his trip by car?
Representation
The problem involves round trip travel, thus the distances are the same and the total
traveling time is 5 hours.

We let d = be the distance traveled by car and by bus


t = the number of hours of the trip by car
5 – t = the number of hours of the trip by bus

We will use a table to illustrate the distance traveled by car and bus.

Distance = rate x time


Car trip d 81 t
Bus trip d 54 5–t

Equation
Since there are two variables involved, we need two equations.
Equation 1 equation of the distance traveled by car ⇒ d = 81t
Equation 2 equation of the distance traveled by bus ⇒ d = 54(5 – t)

Solution
We can solve the system by substitution:
d=54 (5−t )
81 t=54(5−t )
81 t=270−54 t
135 t=270
t=2
Conclusion
Therefore, the trip by car was 2 hours.

Practice:

A train leaves station X and travels east at 35 kph. One hour later, a faster train leaves station X
and also travels east on parallel track at 40 kph. How far from station X will the faster train
catch the slower one?
How do we solve wind and water current problems involving system of linear equations in two
variables?

Illustrative Examples

1. A motorboat travels 36 km downstream in 2 hours. In coming back upstream, the trip


takes 3 hours. Find the rate of the boat in still water and the rate of the current.

Representation
The problem involves traveling with the water current and we are asked on the rate of
the boat in still water and rate of the current so we represent the two values. Let us take
note the relationship of the two rates when traveling upstream and downstream because
it would be used to represent the rate of the boat when traveling upstream and
downstream.

We let x = rate of the boat in still water


y = rate of the current

We will use a table to illustrate the problem.

Distance = rate x time


Upstream 36 x–y 3
Downstream 36 x+y 2

Equation
Since there are two variables involved, we need two equations.

Equation 1 equation of the distance traveled upstream ⇒ 36 = 3(x – y)

Equation 2 equation of the distance traveled downstream ⇒ 36 = 2(x + y)

Solution
We can reduce the two equations:

1
[ 36=3 ( x− y )]
3
1 12=x− y
[ 36=2( x+ y ) ] 18=x+ y
2
We can solve the system by substitution:
x− y=12
+
x+ y=18
2x=30
x=15
Solving for y, we substitute 15 in place of x in equation 2.
x+ y=18
15+ y=18
y=3
Conclusion
Therefore, the rate of the boat instill water is 15 kph while the rate of the current is 3 kph.

2. A jet travels 3 000 miles with a headwind in 5 hours. Then it turns and 3 300 miles with
the tail wind in 3 hours. Find the rate of the jet in still air and the rate of the wind.

Solution:

Representation

The problem involves traveling with the wind and we are asked on the rate of the jet in
still air and rate of the wind so we represent the two values. Let us take note the
relationship of the two rates when traveling with the wind and against the wind because
it would be used to represent the rate of the jet when traveling headwind and tailwind.

We let x = rate of the jet in still air


y = rate of the wind

We will use a table to illustrate the problem.


Distance = rate x time
Headwind 3 000 x–y 5
Tailwind 3 300 x+y 3

Equation
Since there are two variables involved, we need two equations.

Equation 1 equation of the distance traveled headwind ⇒ 3 000 = 5(x – y)

Equation 2 equation of the distance traveled tailwind ⇒ 3 300 = 3(x + y)

Solution
We can reduce the two equations:

1
[ 3000=5( x− y )]
5
1 600=x− y
[ 3300=3( x + y )] 1100=x+ y
3
We can solve the system by elimination:
x− y=600
+
x+ y=1100
2x=1700
x=850
Solving for y, we substitute 850 in place of x in equation 2.
x+ y=1100
850+ y=1100
y=250
Conclusion
Therefore, the rate of the jet in still air is 850 kph while the rate of the wind is 250 kph.

Practice:

Solve the following:


1. A boat can go 22 km downstream in 2 hours. The return trip takes 6 hours. What would be
the speed of the boat if there were no current? What is the rate of the current?
2. It took the pilot an hour and a half to make a flight of 240 miles when flying against a
headwind. If the return trip took an hour and twelve minutes, what was the speed of the
wind?
3. A boat travels with the current at 23 kph and travels against the current at 14 kph. What is
the rate of the boat in still water? What is the rate of the current?

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