🔍 Key Concepts

• AHP vs UMR mile markings and how to combine them into one total river distance • How to calculate speed over ground when you have engine speed (through the water) and current • Using the basic time–distance–speed formula: ( \text{Time} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Speed}} ) and then converting decimal hours into clock time and date

💭 Think About

• First, think about whether you are going upstream or downstream between Natchez and St. Louis, and how that affects whether you add or subtract the current from your engine speed. • Convert both mile 364.1 (AHP) and mile 178.0 (UMR) into a single, continuous river scale so you can find the actual distance between the two points instead of just subtracting the two numbers directly. • Once you have distance and speed over ground, work out the travel time in hours and minutes, then carefully add that to 1000 on 11 May, checking how many full days pass before arrival.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which direction the Mississippi River mileages increase/decrease for AHP (Above Head of Passes) and UMR (Upper Mississippi River) so you don’t mix up upstream/downstream. • Confirm that your speed over ground correctly reflects engine speed plus or minus current (depending on direction of travel). • Double-check your conversion from decimal hours to hours and minutes, and then your addition of days from 11 May to reach the arrival date.