Is that an angle ? What does the S equal ?
Let 'x' be the distance from THE far bank where 700 is the distance to the NEAR bank
boat one has travelled 700 (rate = 700/unit time) boat two has travelled x rate = x / unit time
boat one then travels x + 400 more and boat two travels 700 + (700+x -400) more when they meet
The time is the same rate x time = distance distance/rate = time equate the distances divided by the respective rates
(700 + x + 400)/700 = ( x + 700 + (700+x-400) )/x
1100x + x^2 = 1400x + 700000
x^2-300x -700000 = 0 quadratic formula yields x = 1000
One boat travels 700 the other 1000 whe they first meet.....width of river = 700+ 1000 = 1700 m
Jen take x hours.
Carl (x-3)hours.
Jen+carl take two hours;
This means;
In 1 hour, for they work

=

=

Working together, they take two hours;
Take reciprocal of above equation and equate to two;
=


-3x=4x-6


-x-6x+6=0
x(x-1)-6(x-1)=0
(x-6)(x-1)=0
Take the bracket x-6=0 so that Carl works positive hours
x-6=0
x=6