SOLUTION: A boat can travel 36 miles downstream in 2 hours. Coming back upstream,, the boat takes 3 hours. What is the rate of the boat in still water? What is the rate of the current?

Question 891914: A boat can travel 36 miles downstream in 2 hours. Coming back upstream,, the boat takes 3 hours. What is the rate of the boat in still water? What is the rate of the current?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let = the rate of the current in mi/hr
Let = the speed of the boat in still water
----------------
Going downstream:
(1)
Going upstream:
(2)
---------------------
(1)
(2)
--------------------
(1)
(2)
Add the equations

and
(1)
(1)
The rate of the boat in still water is 15 mi/hr
The speed of the current is 3 mi/hr
------------------
check:
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
and
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
OK

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