SOLUTION: Good day! I get confused with word problems like this, can you lease help me? A boat can travel 48 km downstream in the same time it can travel 32 km upstream. If the rate of t

Question 683899: Good day! I get confused with word problems like this, can you lease help me?
A boat can travel 48 km downstream in the same time it can travel 32 km upstream. If the rate of the boat in still water is 20 km/hr, find the rate of the current.
Thank you so much!
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hi. This type of problem has basically the same
setup for solution.
First, go to things they're looking for, and give it a name.
Let = the rate of the current in km/hr
= rate of boat going downstream in km/hr
= rate of boat going upstream in km/hr
= time in hrs for both trips
----------------------------
Equation for going downstream:
(1)
Equation for going upstream:
(2)
-------------------
There are 2 equations and 2 unknowns, so it's solvable
(1)
Substitute (1) into (2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
The rate of the current is 4 km/hr
check:
(1)
(1)
(1)
and
(2)
(2)
(2)
OK

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