Is this math problem possible?

[Superrock]

Originally posted by: crisscross
so what's the answer?

My game is like the pythagorean theorem, no one has an answer.-

Shaquille O'Neal
Nov. 27, 1999

 

[esun]

The wording isn't perfectly clear, but the problem certainly implies that the distance crept and the distance dashed are the same. In that case,

d_1 = d_2 = r_1 t_1 = r_2 t_2
2t_1 = 6t_2
t_1 = 3t_2
t_1 + t_2 = 8
4t_2 = 8
t_2 = 2
d_2 = 6t_2 = 12 mi. = d_1

That's probably how I'd pose it to the student.

 

[dafatha00]

Distance traveled into the forest is 2X and distance traveled out is 6Y.
Therefore, distance traveled in at 2X must equal the distance traveled out at 6Y.

2X - 6Y = 0
X + Y = 8 (where X = time traveled at 2mph on the way in and Y = time traveled at 6mph on the way out)


Then:

X = 8 - Y
2(8 - Y) - 6Y = 0
16 - 2Y - 6Y = 0
16 = 8Y

X = 6 hours
Y = 2 hours

2mph * 6 hours = 12 miles

Distance into forest = 12 miles

 

[LS20]

it depends on the air-speed velocity of an unladen winston

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: LS20
it depends on the air-speed velocity of an unladen winston

Maybe on the way in he was gripping a coconut, making him slow. On the way out he was unladen.