SOLUTION: A motorboat can travel 24 miles downstream in 2 hours. It requires 3 hours to make the return trip. Find the rate of the boat in still water and the rate of the stream.

Question 481107: A motorboat can travel 24 miles downstream in 2 hours. It requires 3 hours to make the return trip. Find the rate of the boat in still water and the rate of the stream.
Answer by mananth(16946) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
boat speed =x mph
current speed =y mph
against current x-y 3.00 hours
with current x+y 2.00 hours

Distance = same= 24 miles
t=d/r
24 / ( x - y )= 3.00
3 ( x - y ) = 24.00
3 x -3 y = 24 ....................1
24 / ( x + y )= 2.00
2.00 ( x + y ) = 24
2.00 x + 2.00 y = 24 ...............2
Multiply (1) by 2.00
Multiply (2) by 3.00
we get
6 x + -6 y = 48
6 x + 6 y = 72
12 x = 120
/ 12
x = 10 mph

plug value of x in (1)
3 x -3 y = 24
30 -3 y = 24
-3 y = 24 -30
-3 y = -6
y = 2 mph
m.ananth@hotmail.ca
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