SOLUTION: A fishing barge leaves from a dock and moves upstream (against the current) at a rate of 3.8 mph until it reaches its destination. After the people on the barge are done fishing, t

Question 1012033: A fishing barge leaves from a dock and moves upstream (against the current) at a rate of 3.8 mph until it reaches its destination. After the people on the barge are done fishing, the barge moves the same distance downstream (with the current) at a rate of 8 mph until it returns to the dock. The speed of the current remains constant. Use the models below to write and solve a system of equations to find the average speed of the barge in still water and the speed of the current.
Upstream: Speed of barge in still water - Speed of current = Speed of barge
Downstream: Speed of barge in still water + Speed of current = Speed of barge
Answer by ValorousDawn(53) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If the current is constant, you find the speed of the barge in still water by taking the average of the two speeds upstream and downstream. This is because if you take the sum of speed plus current and speed minus current, you're left with the speed. So,

Then you can substitute this into the system and solve.

current=2.1 mph.
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