SOLUTION: A motorboat can maintain a constant speed of 50 miles per hour relative to the water. The boat makes a trip upstream to a certain point in 27 minutes; the return trip takes 23 mins

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Question 877092: A motorboat can maintain a constant speed of 50 miles per hour relative to the water. The boat makes a trip upstream to a certain point in 27 minutes; the return trip takes 23 mins. What is the speed of the current?
/I really get confused with word problems, so I am not too sure how to do this./
Answer by lwsshak3(11628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A motorboat can maintain a constant speed of 50 miles per hour relative to the water. The boat makes a trip upstream to a certain point in 27 minutes; the return trip takes 23 mins. What is the speed of the current?
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let c=speed of current
50+c=speed of boat downstream
50-c=speed of boat upstream
distance=travel time*speed (equal for upstream and downstream)
23(50+c)=27(50-c)
1150+23c=1350-27c
50c=200
c=4
speed of current=4 mph