SOLUTION: A motorboat takes 3 hours to travel 144 mi going upstream. The return trip takes 2 hours going downstream. What is the rate of the boat in still water and what is the rate of th

Question 301401: A motorboat takes 3 hours to travel 144 mi going upstream. The return trip takes 2 hours going downstream. What is the rate of the boat in still water and what is the rate of the current?
Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, richwmiller:
Answer by Alan3354(69443) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A motorboat takes 3 hours to travel 144 mi going upstream. The return trip takes 2 hours going downstream. What is the rate of the boat in still water and what is the rate of the current?
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144/3 = 48 mph upstream
144/2 = 72 mph downstream
The boat's speed is the average = 60 mph
The current is the difference = 72-60 = 12 mph

Answer by richwmiller(17219) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
(m-c)*3=144
(m+c)*2=144
(m-c)*3=(m+c)*2
3m-3c=2m+2c
m=5c
(5c-c)*3=144
12c=144
c=12
(5c+c)*2=144
12c=144
c=12
(m+12)*2=144
2m+24=144
2m=120
m=60
c=12

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