document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=329422>Question 329422</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I need some help in solving this problem. The current ina stream moves at a speed of 2 km/h. A boat travel 27 km upstream and 27 km downstream  in a total of 17 hours.  What is the speed of the boat in still water? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #236128 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=236128\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The current in a stream moves at a speed of 2 km/h. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "A boat travel 27 km upstream and 27 km downstream in a total of 17 hours. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "What is the speed of the boat in still water?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "---<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Upstream DATA:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "distance = 27 km ; rate = (x-2) km/h ; time = d/r = 27/(x-2) hrs.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "---------------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Downstream DATA:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "distance = 27 km ; rate = (x+2) km/h ; time = 27/(x+2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----------------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Equation:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "time up + time down = 17<BR>\n" );
document.write( "27/(x-2) + 27(x+2) = 17 hrs<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-------------------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Multiply thru by (x-2)(x+2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "---<BR>\n" );
document.write( "27(x+2) + 27(x-2) = 17(x^2-4)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "54x = 17x^2 - 68x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "---<BR>\n" );
document.write( "17x^2 - 122x = 0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x(17x-122) = 0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Positive solution:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 122/17 = 7.1765 km/h (speed of the boat in still water)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "==============================================================<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );