SOLUTION: A boat can go 33 mph in still water.It take as long to go 300 milles uptream as it does to go downsteam 360 milles . How fast is the current?

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Question 213801: A boat can go 33 mph in still water.It take as long to go 300 milles uptream as it does to go downsteam 360 milles . How fast is the current?
Answer by drj(1380) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A boat can go 33 mph in still water. It take as long to go 300 miles upstream as it does to go downstream 360 miles . How fast is the current?

Step 1. Let v be the velocity of the current.

Step 2. Speed of boat in still water is 33 mph. Velocity going upstream is 33-v and velocity going downsteam is 33+v

Step 3. Distance=Time*Velocity and Upstream time = Downstream time

Step 4. Upstream time = Distance/Velocity=300/(33-v)

Step 5. Downstream time = 360/(33+v)

Step 6. Set expressions in Step 4 and 5 to be equal since time traveled upstream equals to time traveled downstream. Then

300%2F%2833-v%29=360%2F%2833%2Bv%29

Multiply by (33-v)(33+v) to both sides of equation to get rid of denominators.

300%2833%2Bv%29=360%2833-v%29

Divide by 60 to both sides of equation

5%2833%2Bv%29=6%2833-v%29

165%2B5v=198-6v

Add 6v-165 to both sides of equation

11v=33

Divide by 33 to both sides of equation

v=3

Step 5. So velocity of current is 3 mph.

I hope the above steps were helpful.

For free Step-By-Step Videos on Introduction to Algebra, please visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/IntroAlgebra or for Trigonometry visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/Trigonometry.

And good luck in your studies!

Respectfully,
Dr J