SOLUTION: in still water a boat travels 15 mph. It takes same amount of time to travel 20 miles downstream, with the current, as 10 miles upstream against the current.what is the rate of the

Question 444914: in still water a boat travels 15 mph. It takes same amount of time to travel 20 miles downstream, with the current, as 10 miles upstream against the current.what is the rate of the waters current?
Answer by htmentor(1343) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let c = the speed of the current
The 20 mile downstream travel time will be 20/(15+c)
The 10 mile upstream travel time will be 10/(15-c)
Since the times are equal we have
20/(15+c) = 10/(15-c)
Solve for c:
10(15+c) = 20(15-c)
15+c = 30-2c
3c = 15
c = 5
So the rate of the current is 5 mph
Check:
t = 20/(15+5) = 1 hr
t = 10/(15-5) = 1 hr
RELATED QUESTIONS
in still water, a boat averages 15 miles per hour. it takes the same amount of time to... (answered by macston)

In still water a boat averages 8 mph it takes the same amount of time to travel 22 miles... (answered by Stitch)

in still water, a boat averages 7 mph. it takes the same amount of time to travel 20... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)

The speed of a river current is 4 mph. If a boat travels 20 miles downstream in the same... (answered by Boreal)

the speed of the lazy river current is 5 mph. If a boat travels 20 miles downstream in... (answered by Fombitz)

In still water, a boat averages 15 miles per hour. It takes the same amount of time to... (answered by texttutoring)

The speed of a stream is 4 mph. A boat travels 3 miles upstream (against the current) in... (answered by mananth)

a boat averages 20 mph in still water. It takes the boat the same amount of time to... (answered by lwsshak3)

The speed of a river current is 4 mph. If a boat travels 30 miles downstream in the same... (answered by TimothyLamb)