Two boats travel at right angles to each other after leaving the same dock at the same time. one hour later, the boats are 25 miles apart. if one boat travels 17 miles per hour faster than the other boat, find the rate of each boat

The speed of the two boats are 7 miles per hour and 24 miles per hour.

Explanation:

Let the speed of the first boat be x miles per hour and second boat be x+17 miles per hour.

As they move at right angle to each other, this problem can be solved using Pythagoras theorem.

The two boats will form a right angle with hypotenuse 25 miles after one hour.

Applying the theorem we get,

∴ x= -24 and 7

As speed cannot be negative,

We get speed of first boat = 7 miles per hour and

Speed of second boat = 7+17 = 24 miles per hour.

grav potential energy