Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Relative Speed
Relative speed refers to the speed of an object as observed from a particular frame of reference. In this problem, Callie's boat speed is affected by the river's current. When moving upstream, the effective speed of the boat is reduced by the current, while downstream, the current adds to the boat's speed. Understanding how to calculate relative speed is crucial for solving problems involving moving objects in different directions.
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Distance, Speed, and Time Relationship
The relationship between distance, speed, and time is expressed by the formula: Distance = Speed × Time. This fundamental concept allows us to calculate one of the three variables if the other two are known. In this scenario, we can use the time taken for both upstream and downstream trips to set up equations that relate Callie's boat speed to the distance traveled and the current's effect.
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Setting Up Equations
Setting up equations involves translating a word problem into mathematical expressions that can be solved. In this case, we need to create two equations based on the time taken for the upstream and downstream journeys, incorporating the boat's speed and the river's current. This process is essential for finding the unknown variable, which in this problem is Callie's boat speed.
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