SOLUTION: My motor boat normally travels at 24 km/h in still water. One day I travelled 36 km against a constant current in a river and it took me the same time to travel 48 km with the curr

Question 207886: My motor boat normally travels at 24 km/h in still water. One day I travelled 36 km against a constant current in a river and it took me the same time to travel 48 km with the current. How fast was the current?
Answer by rapaljer(4671) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The basic formula is d=rt, and since the equation is based upon the fact that time up stream is equal to time downstream, it will be helpful to solve for t.

Let x = rate of current.
24 = rate in still water

24+x = rate downstream
24-x = rate upstream

time downstream =
time upstream =

Solve the equation:

Since means that ,
means that

Get out your calculator:

km/h

R^2

Dr. Robert J. Rapalje
Altamonte Springs Campus
Seminole State University
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