SOLUTION: A tugboat goes 180 miles upstream in 15 hours. The return trip downstream takes 10 hours. Find the speed of the tugboat wihtout a current and the speed of the current.

Question 598639: A tugboat goes 180 miles upstream in 15 hours. The return trip downstream takes 10 hours. Find the speed of the tugboat wihtout a current and the speed of the current.
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A tugboat goes 180 miles upstream in 15 hours. The return trip downstream takes 10 hours. Find the speed of the tugboat wihtout a current and the speed of the current.
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Upstream DATA:
distance = 180 miles ; time = 15 hrs ; rate = 180/15 = 12 mph
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Downstream DATA:
distance = 180 miles ; time = 10 hrs ; rate = 180/10 = 18 mph
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Equation:
Upstream: b - c = 12 mph
Downstrm: b + c = 18 mph
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Add and solve for "b":
2b = 30 mph
b = 15 mph (boat speed in still water)
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Solve for "c":
b + c = 18 mph
15 + c = 18
c = 3 mph (speed of the current)
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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