SOLUTION: In still water a tugboat can travel 15 miles per hour. It travels 36 miles upstream and then 36 miles downstream in a total time of 5 hours. Find the speed of the current.

Question 319437: In still water a tugboat can travel 15 miles per hour. It travels 36 miles upstream and then 36 miles downstream in a total time of 5 hours. Find the speed of the current.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let = speed of current
= speed going upstream
= speed going downstream
(1)
(2)
(3)
----------------------------
(1)

and
(2)

Adding:

Multiply both sides by

The current is 3 mi/hr
check:

OK
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