An algebra problem by John George
While Steve and LeRoy are fishing 1 mile from shore, their boat springs a leak, and water comes in at a constant rate of 10 gallons per minute. The boat will sink if it takes in more than 30 gallons of water. Steve starts rowing toward the shore at a constant rate of 4 miles per hour while LeRoy bails water out of the boat. What is the slowest rate, in gallons per minute, at which LeRoy can bail if they are to reach the shore without sinking?
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1 solution
It will take1/4 of an hour or 15 minutes to get to shore.
Since only 30 gallons of water can enter the boat, only 30/15=2 net gallons can enter the boat per minute.
Since 10 gallons of water enter the boat each minute, LeRoy must bail 10-2=8 gallons per minute .