SOLUTION: a small motorboat travels 14mph in still water. It takes 6 hours longer to travel 59 miles going upstream than it does down stream. Find the rate of the current.
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Question 545887: a small motorboat travels 14mph in still water. It takes 6 hours longer to travel 59 miles going upstream than it does down stream. Find the rate of the current.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let = rate of current
Let = rate of boat in still water
= rate going against current
= rate going with current
Let = time for boat to go mi with current
-------------
given:
equation for going downstream ( with current )
(1)
equation for going upstream ( against current )
(2)
(2)
------------------
Substitute (1) into (2)
(2)
multiply both sides by
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
Use quadratic equation
The rate of the current is 7.27 mi/hr
check answer:
and
This looks close enough
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