SOLUTION: A boat on a river travels downstream (with the current) between two points 20 miles apart, in one hour. The return trip (against the current) takes 2& 1/2 hours. What is the boat's

Question 890508: A boat on a river travels downstream (with the current) between two points 20 miles apart, in one hour. The return trip (against the current) takes 2& 1/2 hours. What is the boat's speed, and what is the speed of the current?
Answer by lwsshak3(11628) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A boat on a river travels downstream (with the current) between two points 20 miles apart, in one hour. The return trip (against the current) takes 2& 1/2 hours. What is the boat's speed, and what is the speed of the current?
***
let x=boat's speed (in still water)
let c=speed of current
(x+c)boat's speed (downstream)
(x+c)boat's speed (against current)
distance/speed=travel time
..
20/(x+c)=1
20/x-c=2.5
..
x+c=20
2.5x-2.5c=20
..
2.5x+2.5c=50
2.5x-2.5c=20
add
5x=70
x=14
c=20-x=6
boat's speed (in still water)=14 mph
let c=speed of current=6 mph

RELATED QUESTIONS
A boat on a river travels downstream between two points, 20 miles apart, in one hour. The (answered by ikleyn,richwmiller)

A boat on a river travels downstream between two points, 10 mi apart, in one hour. The... (answered by richwmiller,lwsshak3)

A boat on a river travels downstream between two points, 20 mi apart, in one hour. The... (answered by checkley71)

A boat on a river travels downstream between two points, 80 mi apart, in 1 h. The return... (answered by ikleyn)

A boat on a river travels downstream between two points, 60 mi apart, in one hour. The... (answered by scott8148)

A boat on a river travels downstream between two points, 80 mi apart, in 1 h. The return... (answered by Alan3354)

A boat on a river travels downstream between two points, 80 mi apart, in 1 h. The return... (answered by Alan3354,ikleyn)

I had a word problem on a test involving Matrices, determinants and Cramer's Rule. I... (answered by Fombitz,bucky)

A woman paddling a canoe downstream with the river current travels 20 miles in 2 hours.... (answered by TimothyLamb)