document.write( "Question 890508: A boat on a river travels downstream (with the current) between two points 20 miles apart, in one hour. The return trip (against the current) takes 2& 1/2 hours. What is the boat's speed, and what is the speed of the current? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #539083 by lwsshak3(11628)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! A boat on a river travels downstream (with the current) between two points 20 miles apart, in one hour. The return trip (against the current) takes 2& 1/2 hours. What is the boat's speed, and what is the speed of the current? \n" ); document.write( "*** \n" ); document.write( "let x=boat's speed (in still water) \n" ); document.write( "let c=speed of current \n" ); document.write( "(x+c)boat's speed (downstream) \n" ); document.write( "(x+c)boat's speed (against current) \n" ); document.write( "distance/speed=travel time \n" ); document.write( ".. \n" ); document.write( "20/(x+c)=1 \n" ); document.write( "20/x-c=2.5 \n" ); document.write( ".. \n" ); document.write( "x+c=20 \n" ); document.write( "2.5x-2.5c=20 \n" ); document.write( ".. \n" ); document.write( "2.5x+2.5c=50 \n" ); document.write( "2.5x-2.5c=20 \n" ); document.write( "add \n" ); document.write( "5x=70 \n" ); document.write( "x=14 \n" ); document.write( "c=20-x=6 \n" ); document.write( "boat's speed (in still water)=14 mph \n" ); document.write( "let c=speed of current=6 mph \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |