Question

can someone help me with this
a cruise ship left the azores seven hours before a fishing boat. the ships traveled in opposite directions. the fishing boat traveled at 26mph for one hour. after this time the ships were 74 mi apart. find the cruise ships speed.

Answer 1

Rate x Time = Distance.
Fishing boat: Rate = 26 mph
Time = 1 hour
Cruise ship: Rate = x mph
Time = (since it left 7 hours before the fishing boat)
7+1 = 8
They're traveling in opposite directions = add.

26 (1) + 8x = 74 <-- you add the Rate x Times together.
8x = 48
x = 6 miles per hour.
And that's the cruise ship's rate. (:
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As a side note, when the two objects are traveling toward the same direction = subtract.
when the two objects are traveling toward each other = add.