document.write( "Question 248519: Please help me help my son with this word problem ...\r
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document.write( "A boat travels 60 km upstream (against the current) in 5 hours. The boat travels the same distance downstream in 3 hours. What is the rate of the boat in still water? What is the rate of the current? \n" );
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Algebra.Com's Answer #181117 by stanbon(75887)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! A boat travels 60 km upstream (against the current) in 5 hours. \n" ); document.write( "Upstream DATA: \n" ); document.write( "distance = 60 km ; time = 5 hrs ; rate = distance/time = 60/5 = 12 mph \n" ); document.write( "----------------------------------------------------------------------- \n" ); document.write( "The boat travels the same distance downstream in 3 hours. \n" ); document.write( "Downstream DATA: \n" ); document.write( "distance = 60 km ; time = 3 hrs ; rate = d/t = 60/3 = 20 mph \n" ); document.write( "----------------------------------------------------------------- \n" ); document.write( "What is the rate of the boat in still water? \n" ); document.write( "What is the rate of the current? \n" ); document.write( "----- \n" ); document.write( "Let the rate of the boat in still water be \"b\" \n" ); document.write( "Let the rate of the current be \"c\". \n" ); document.write( "----------------------------------------- \n" ); document.write( "Equations: \n" ); document.write( "b + c = 20 mph \n" ); document.write( "b - c = 12 mph \n" ); document.write( "--------------------- \n" ); document.write( "Add the equation and solve for \"b\": \n" ); document.write( "2b = 32 \n" ); document.write( "b = 16 mph (rate of the boat in still water) \n" ); document.write( "----------------------- \n" ); document.write( "Substitute b=16 into b+c = 20 to solve for \"c\": \n" ); document.write( "16 + c = 20 \n" ); document.write( "c = 4 mph (rate of the current) \n" ); document.write( "===================================== \n" ); document.write( "Cheers, \n" ); document.write( "Stan H. \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |