227k views
2 votes
Boat A leaves a dock headed due east at 2:00PM traveling at a speed of 9 mi/hr. At the same time, Boat B leaves the same dock traveling due south at a speed of 15 mi/hr. Find an equation that represents the distance d in miles between the boats and any time t in hours.

2 Answers

2 votes

Final answer:

To find the equation representing the distance between the boats at any time, we can use the concept of relative velocity and the Pythagorean theorem. The equation d = sqrt(306t^2) represents the distance between the boats as a function of time.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find an equation that represents the distance between the boats at any time, we will use the concept of relative velocity. Boat A is moving east with a velocity of 9 mi/hr, and Boat B is moving south with a velocity of 15 mi/hr. The distance between the boats can be represented by the hypotenuse of a right triangle formed by their velocities.

Let's assume the time elapsed is t hours. The distance traveled by Boat A is 9t miles (since it is moving east with a constant velocity). The distance traveled by Boat B is 15t miles (since it is moving south with a constant velocity). Using the Pythagorean theorem, the distance d between the boats can be found using the equation: d^2 = (9t)^2 + (15t)^2.

Simplifying this equation gives us: d^2 = 81t^2 + 225t^2 = 306t^2.

Taking the square root of both sides, we get: d = sqrt(306t^2).

User Rikon
by
8.5k points
7 votes

Answer:
17.5t

Step-by-step explanation:

Given

Speed of boat A is
v_a=9\ mi/hr

Speed of boat B is
v_b=15\ mi/hr

Both are moving perpendicular to each other

Distance traveled by Boat A
x_a=9t

Distance traveled by Boat B
x_b=15t

Distance between them is given by Pythagoras theorem


\Rightarrow d^2=(x_a)^2+(x_b)^2\\\\\Rightarrow d^2=(9t)^2+(15t)^2\\\\\Rightarrow d=√((9t)^2+(15t)^2)\\\\\Rightarrow d=√(81t^2+225t^2)\\\\\Rightarrow d=√(306t^2)\\\\\Rightarrow d=17.49t\approx 17.5t\ \text{miles}

Distance between them is
17.5t

User Mekkanizer
by
8.7k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.

9.4m questions

12.2m answers

Categories