SOLUTION: A canoe goes 12 miles downstream in the same time it takes to go 8 miles upstream. If the canoe can go 15 mph in still water, what is the rate of the current?

Question 930777: A canoe goes 12 miles downstream in the same time it takes to go 8 miles upstream. If the canoe can go 15 mph in still water, what is the rate of the current?
Answer by mananth(16946) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Boat speed = 15 mph
current speed = x mph

speed against current 15 - x
speed with current 15 + x

Distance against current 8 miles
Distance with current 12 miles

t=d/r time against = time with current -
8 / ( 15 - x )= 12 / ( 15 + x )
8 ( 15 + x )= 12 ( 15 -x )
120 + 8 x = 180 - -12 x
12 x 8 x 180 + -120
20 x = 60
/ 20
x = 3 mph current speed

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