document.write( "Question 683899: Good day! I get confused with word problems like this, can you lease help me?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "A boat can travel 48 km downstream in the same time it can travel 32 km upstream. If the rate of the boat in still water is 20 km/hr, find the rate of the current.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Thank you so much!
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Algebra.Com's Answer #423811 by josmiceli(19441)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hi. This type of problem has basically the same
\n" ); document.write( "setup for solution.
\n" ); document.write( "First, go to things they're looking for, and give it a name.
\n" ); document.write( "Let \"+c+\" = the rate of the current in km/hr
\n" ); document.write( "\"+20+%2B+c+\" = rate of boat going downstream in km/hr
\n" ); document.write( "\"+20+-+c+\" = rate of boat going upstream in km/hr
\n" ); document.write( "\"+t+\" = time in hrs for both trips
\n" ); document.write( "----------------------------
\n" ); document.write( "Equation for going downstream:
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+48+=+%28+20+%2B+c+%29%2At+\"
\n" ); document.write( "Equation for going upstream:
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+32+=+%28+20+-+c+%29%2At+\"
\n" ); document.write( "-------------------
\n" ); document.write( "There are 2 equations and 2 unknowns, so it's solvable
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+t+=+48+%2F+%28+20+%2B+c+%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "Substitute (1) into (2)
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+32+=+%28+20+-+c+%29%2A%28+48+%2F+%28+20+%2B+c+%29+%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+32%2A%28+20+%2B+c+%29+=+48%2A%28+20+-+c+%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+640+%2B+32c+=+960+-+48c+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+80c+=+960+-+640+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+80c+=+320+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+c+=+4+\"
\n" ); document.write( "The rate of the current is 4 km/hr
\n" ); document.write( "check:
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+48+=+%28+20+%2B+4+%29%2At+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+48+=+24t+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+t+=+2+\"
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+32+=+%28+20+-+4+%29%2At+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+32+=+16t+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+t+=+2+\"
\n" ); document.write( "OK\r
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