SOLUTION: A cruise boat travels 96 miles downstream for 2 hours and returns to its starting point upstream in 6 hours. What is the speed of the stream?

Question 764575: A cruise boat travels 96 miles downstream for 2 hours and returns to its starting point upstream in 6 hours. What is the speed of the stream?
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A cruise boat travels 96 miles downstream for 2 hours and returns to its starting point upstream in 6 hours. What is the speed of the stream?
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Downstream DATA:
distance = 96 miles ; time = 2 hrs ; rate = 96/2 = 48 mph
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Upstream DATA:
distance = 96 miles ; time = 4 hrs ; rate = 96/4 = 24 mph
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Equations:
b + c = 48 mph
b - c = 24 mph
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Add and solve for "b":
2b = 72
boat speed = 36 mph in still water
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Solve for "c":
b + c = 48
36+c =48
c = 12 mph (speed of the current)
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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