SOLUTION: The current in a stream is 2 mph. Find the speed of the boat in still water if it goes 26 miles downstream in the same amount of time it takes to go 18 miles upstream.

Question 385442: The current in a stream is 2 mph. Find the speed of the boat in still water if it goes 26 miles downstream in the same amount of time it takes to go 18 miles upstream.
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The current in a stream is 2 mph. Find the speed of the boat in still water if it goes 26 miles downstream in the same amount of time it takes to go 18 miles upstream.
--------------------
Let speed of the boat be "b":
----
Downstream DATA:
distance = 26 miles ; rate = b+2 mph ; time = 26/(b+2) hrs.
-----------------------------------
Upstream DATA:
distance = 18 miles ; rate = b-2 mph; time = 18/(b-2) hrs
=============
Equation:
time = time
26/(b+2) = 18/(b-2)
26(b-2) = 18(b+2)
---
26b-52 = 18b + 36
8b = 88
b = 11 mph (speed of the boat in still water)
==========================
Cheers,
Stan H.
RELATED QUESTIONS
A boat goes 200 miles downstream in the same time it can go 150 miles up stream. The... (answered by Paul)

The speed of a stream is 4 mph. If a boat travels 52 miles downstream in the same time... (answered by josmiceli)

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

I'm having trouble with a word problem. It states: The current in a stream is 2mph. Find... (answered by mananth)

blake travels in a boat 200 miles downstream in the same time that it takes to go 120... (answered by checkley77)

The speed of a current is 6 mph. If a boat travels 52 miles downstream in the same time... (answered by josmiceli)

The speed of a stream is 6 mph. If a boat travels 74 miles downstream in the same to time (answered by stanbon)

The speed of a stream is 2 mph. A boat travels 8 miles upstream in the same time it takes (answered by tommyt3rd)

the speed of a current is 4 mph. if a boat travels 75 miles down stream in the same time... (answered by lwsshak3)