document.write( "Question 38339: a tugboat pushing a barge up the Ohio River takes 1 hour longer to travel 36 miles up the river than to travel the same distance down the river. If the rate of current is 3 mph, find the speed of the tugboat and barge in still water \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #23827 by Paul(988) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Letting x be the speed:
\n" ); document.write( "EQUATION:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"36%2F%28x-3%29-36%2F%28x%2B3%29=1\"$
\n" ); document.write( "36[(x+3)-(x-3)]=(x+3)(x-3)
\n" ); document.write( " $\"36%286%29=x%5E2-9\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"216=x%5E2-9\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%5E2=225\"$
\n" ); document.write( "x=15
\n" ); document.write( "Hence, the speed of the boat is 15mph.
\n" ); document.write( "Paul. \n" ); document.write( "

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