Expert: Richard J. Raridon - 4/22/2010

Question
1.) A tug can push a barge 144 miles down the mississippi river in the same time that it takes to push the barge 84 miles in the gulf of mexico. If the tugs speed is 5 mph greater going down the river, then what is its speed in the gulf of mexico?


2.) Solve the equation for x

1/x + 1/x-5 = 2x+1/x^2-25 + 9/x^2+5x


3.)simplify the complex fraction

   x+6
x-  ---
   x+2
----------
  4x+15
x- -----
   x+2


( i Made it look like the fraction on my paper unlike the #2.) problem so it would be easier to solve)


Thank you so much :)
~ashley

Answer
1. 84/v = 144/(v+5) so v = 7mph
2. for clarity, you need to write it 1/x +1/(x-5) = (2x+1)/(x^2-25) +9/(x^2+5x) so x = 4
3. I assume you mean [x -(x+6)/(x+2)]/[x -(4x+15)/(x+2)]
so you have [x(x+2)-(x+6)]/[x(x+2)-(4x+15)] = (x^2+x-6)/(x^2-2x-15) = [(x+3)(x-2)]/[x-5)(x+3)]
= (x-2)/x-5)