Thread: Linear Algebra Problem

On your next trip to Switzerland, you should take the scenic boat ride from Rheinfall to Rheinau and back. The trip downstream from Rheinfall to Rheinau takes 20 minutes, and the return trip takes 40 minutes; the distance between Rheinfall and Rheinau along the river is 8 kilometers. How fast does the boat travel (relative to the water), and how fast does the river Rhein flow in this area? You may assumes both speeds to be constant throughout the journey.

I have no idea how to even start this or put it into a matrix.

Hey Preston019.

Can you write each expression as a linear relationship? (Hint: each variable corresponds to the distance of a particular section of the trip)

So would it be x+y=8/20 and x-y=8/40 then?

Originally Posted by Preston019

So would it be x+y=8/20 and x-y=8/40 then?

That's meaningless until you say what "x" and "y" mean in this problem. chiro said "Hint: each variable corresponds to the distance of a particular section of the trip" but you are the one assigning meaning to variables.

I'm still not understanding this very well.

Would you set it up as 20x+40y=16 then?

Are there any other hints?