document.write( "Question 562223: it takes a botat 2 hours to travel 20 miles down a river and 3 hours to return upstream to its starting point. what is the rate of the current in the river \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #364499 by stanbon(75887) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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it takes a boat 2 hours to travel 20 miles down a river and 3 hours to return upstream to its starting point. what is the rate of the current in the river
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\n" ); document.write( "Down River DATA:
\n" ); document.write( "dist = 20 miles ; time = 2 hrs ; rate = d/t = 10 mph
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\n" ); document.write( "Up River DATA:
\n" ); document.write( "dist = 20 miles : time = 3 hrs ; rate = d/t = 20/3 mph
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\n" ); document.write( "Equation:
\n" ); document.write( "b + c = 10 mph
\n" ); document.write( "b - c = 20/3 mph
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\n" ); document.write( "2b = (10 + 20/3) = (50/3)
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\n" ); document.write( "b = 25/3 mph (speed of the boat in still water)
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\n" ); document.write( "Solve for \"c\":
\n" ); document.write( "b + c = 10
\n" ); document.write( "(25/3) + c = (30/3)
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\n" ); document.write( "c = 5/3 = 1 2/3 mph (speed of the current)
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\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H.
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