document.write( "Question 632568: My problem is a word problem that goes like this: A tugboat goes 120 miles upstream in 20 hours. The return trip downstream takes 10 hours. Find the speed of the tug boat without a current, and, find the speed of the current.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So, I have two variables x= tugboat speed, and y = current speed, I believe that this is basically a rate, time, distance type of problem. I tried to solve it like this: 120x20=2400 multiply
\n" ); document.write( " 120x10=1200 add
\n" ); document.write( " =3600/2=1800 divide by 2\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " 1800-2400=-600, 1800-1200=600, I know that this is incorrect,as it is impossible for a tugboat to go -600 mph, or for a river current to move at 600 mph. I saw a similar problem on this sight, but I think the asker formatted the problem improperly, because the answer was only one part, and the problem requires a two part answer, and it just does not fit this particular problem either. Can you help me understand how to solve this problem? Thanks\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #398359 by stanbon(75887)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A tugboat goes 120 miles upstream in 20 hours. The return trip downstream takes 10 hours. Find the speed of the tug boat without a current, and, find the speed of the current.
\n" ); document.write( "----
\n" ); document.write( "Upstream DATA:
\n" ); document.write( "distance = 120 miles ; time = 20 hrs ; rate = d/t = 120/20 = 6 mph
\n" ); document.write( "--------
\n" ); document.write( "Downstream DATA:
\n" ); document.write( "distance = 120 miles ; time = 10 hrs ; rate = d/t = 120/10 = 12 mph
\n" ); document.write( "----
\n" ); document.write( "Equations:
\n" ); document.write( "b + c = 12 mph
\n" ); document.write( "b - c = 6 mph
\n" ); document.write( "----
\n" ); document.write( "Add and solve for \"b\":
\n" ); document.write( "2b = 18 mph
\n" ); document.write( "boat speed = 9 mph
\n" ); document.write( "-----
\n" ); document.write( "Solve for \"c\":
\n" ); document.write( "b + c = 12 mph
\n" ); document.write( "9 + c = 12
\n" ); document.write( "current speed = 3 mph
\n" ); document.write( "==========================
\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H.
\n" ); document.write( "=================
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );