document.write( "Question 184761: A tugboat can pull a barge 60 miles upstream in 15 hours. the same tugboat and barge can make the return trip downstream in 6 hours. Find the speed of the current in the river \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #138661 by stanbon(75887) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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A tugboat can pull a barge 60 miles upstream in 15 hours. the same tugboat and barge can make the return trip downstream in 6 hours. Find the speed of the current in the river
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\n" ); document.write( "upstream DATA:
\n" ); document.write( "Distance = 60 miles ; time = 15 hrs. ; rate = 60/15 = 4 mph
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\n" ); document.write( "Downtream DATA:
\n" ); document.write( "Distance = 60 miles ; time = 6 hrs. ; rate = 60/6= 10 mph
\n" ); document.write( "--------------------------
\n" ); document.write( "Equations:
\n" ); document.write( "b + c = 10 mph (rate downstream of boat + current)
\n" ); document.write( "b - c = 4 mph (rate upstream of boat + current)
\n" ); document.write( "-------------
\n" ); document.write( "Subtract 2nd from 1st to solve for c:
\n" ); document.write( "2c = 6
\n" ); document.write( "c = 3 mph (rate of the current)
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\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H.
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