SOLUTION: A boat traveled 288 miles each way down stream and back. the trip down stream with the water current took 12 hours. the trip up stream against the current took 36 hours. How fast w

Question 598787: A boat traveled 288 miles each way down stream and back. the trip down stream with the water current took 12 hours. the trip up stream against the current took 36 hours. How fast would the boat be traveling in still water? how fast is the current?
Answer by w_parminder(53) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let speed of boat in still water = X mph
& speed of the stream = Y mph
So effective speed of the boat while going downstream = (X + Y) mph
& effective speed of the boat while going upstream = (X - Y) mph
using the formula (Time*Speed = Distance), we get
12*(X + Y) = 288 (for downstream journey)
X + Y = 288/12
X + Y = 24 (equation 1)

Using the same formula, we get
36*(X - Y) = 288 (for upstream journey)
X - Y = 288/36
X - Y = 8 (equation 2)
On Adding equation 1 & 2, we get
2X = 32
i.e. X = 16
using the value of X = 16 in equation 1, we get
16 + Y = 24
i.e. Y = 8
So speed of boat in still water = 16 mph
& speed of the stream = 8 mph

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