SOLUTION: Julie and Eric row their boat (at a constant speed) 45 miles downstream for 5 hours, helped by the current. Rowing at the same rate, the trip back against the current takes 9 hours

Question 169265: Julie and Eric row their boat (at a constant speed) 45 miles downstream for 5 hours, helped by the current. Rowing at the same rate, the trip back against the current takes 9 hours. Find the rate of the current.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let the current be
Let the rate of the boat with no current be
With the current:

Against the current:

-------------------
Given:

Rewriting these,

Multiply the 1st by and the 2nd by

Add these equations

Divide both sides by

Substitute this back into a given equation

The rate of the current is 2 mi/hr
check:

------------

OK
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