SOLUTION: The sped of the current in the Mississippi River is 5mph. A boat travels downstream 26 miles and returns in a total of 32/3 hours. What is the speed of the boat in still water.

Question 1008924: The sped of the current in the Mississippi River is 5mph. A boat travels downstream 26 miles and returns in a total of 32/3 hours. What is the speed of the boat in still water.
Any help is desperately needed as soon as possible.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let = the speed of the boat in still water
= the speed of the boat going downstream
= the speed of the boat going upstream
Let = time in hrs for the boat to go downstream
= time in hrs for the boat to go upstream
---------------------------------------------
Equation for going downstream:
(1)
Equation for going upstream:
(2)
--------------------------
(2)
(2)
and
(1)
By substitution:
(2)
Multiply both sides by
(2)
(2)
(2)
Use quadratic formula

mi/hr
The speed of the boat in still water is 15.767 mi/hr
check:
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
and
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
OK
This seems to check out -you could still get
another opinion, but I think my method is OK
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