Question

A boat is heading across a river at a velocity of 25 mph. The river is flowing downstream at 10 mph. What is the actual velocity of the boat?

Answer 1

Principle: Pythagorean theorem

Given:
Let a = boat velocity = 25 miles per hour
      b = river velocity = 10 miles per hour

Required: c = actual velocity

Solution:
     
     c^2 = a^2 + b^2
     c^2 = (25)^2 + (10)^2
     c^2 = 725
     (c^2)^0.5 = (725)^0.5
      c = 26.93 miles per hour

ANSWER: Actual boat velocity is 26.93 miles per hour