document.write( "Question 266575: A motorboat can maintain a constant speed of 16 miles per hour relative to the water. The boat makes a trip upstrem to a certain point in 20 minutes, the return trip takes 15 minutes. What is the speed of the current?
\n" ); document.write( "Thanks for any help you can provide,
\n" ); document.write( "orchidia@tampabay.rr.com
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Algebra.Com's Answer #195982 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A motorboat can maintain a constant speed of 16 miles per hour relative to the water.
\n" ); document.write( "The boat makes a trip upstream to a certain point in 20 minutes, the return trip takes 15 minutes.
\n" ); document.write( "What is the speed of the current?
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\n" ); document.write( "Change 20 min to \"1%2F3\" hr
\n" ); document.write( "Change 15 min to \"1%2F4\" hr
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\n" ); document.write( "Let c = rate of the current
\n" ); document.write( "then
\n" ); document.write( "(16-c) = rate upstream
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "(16+c) = rate downstream
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Assume the trip up and the trip back were the same distance
\n" ); document.write( "Write a distance equation: dist = time * rate
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\n" ); document.write( "Dist upstream = dist downstream
\n" ); document.write( "\"1%2F4\"(16+c) = \"1%2F3\"(16-c)
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides by 12, to get rid of the denominators, results:
\n" ); document.write( "3(16+c) = 4(16-c)
\n" ); document.write( "48 + 3c = 64 - 4c
\n" ); document.write( "3c + 4c = 64 - 48
\n" ); document.write( "7c = 16
\n" ); document.write( "c = \"16%2F7\"
\n" ); document.write( "c = 2.2857 mph is the current
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\n" ); document.write( "Check solution by finding the distance of each trip (should be equal)
\n" ); document.write( ".25(16+2.2857) = 4.57 mi
\n" ); document.write( ".333(16-2.2857) = 4.57 mi
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