SOLUTION: a boat traveled 45 miles downstream in 5 hours. the return trip took 9 hours upstream. what is the rate of the boat in still water in miles per hour?

Question 400516: a boat traveled 45 miles downstream in 5 hours. the return trip took 9 hours upstream. what is the rate of the boat in still water in miles per hour?
Answer by Tatiana_Stebko(1539) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x(mph)= the rate of the boat in still water
Let y mph = the rate of the river
When boat travels downstream the rate is (x+y)mph
From text:a boat traveled 45 miles downstream in 5 hours, so boat (downstream ) rate was mph
We have the first equation of system

When boat travels upstream the rate is (x-y) mph
From text:a boat traveled 45 miles downstream in 9 hours, so boat (upstream ) rate was mph
the second equation is

mph - the rate of the boat in still water
Answer 7 mph
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