SOLUTION: Traveling upstream against the current, it took a motorboat 2 hours to make a 60-mile trip. The return trip traveling downstream with the current took 1 hour. Find the rate of the

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Question 1024241: Traveling upstream against the current, it took a motorboat 2 hours to make a 60-mile trip. The return trip traveling downstream with the current took 1 hour. Find the rate of the current.
Please show the work
Found 2 solutions by solver91311, josmiceli:
Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Same process as the problem with the Pigeon

John

My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +c+ = the rate of the current
Let +s+ = the speed of the boat in still water
+s+%2B+c+ = the speed of the boat going downstream
+s+-+c+ = the speed of the boat going upstream
-----------------------------------------
Equation for going upstream:
(1) +60+=+%28+s+-+c+%29%2A2+
Equation for going downstream:
(2) +60+=+%28+s+%2B+c+%29%2A1+
--------------------------
(1) +s+-+c+=+30+
and
(2) +s+%2B+c+=+60+
Add the equations:
+2s+=+90+
+s+=+45+
-------------
(2) +60+=+%28+s+%2B+c+%29%2A1+
(2) +60+=+%28+45+%2B+c+%29%2A1+
(2) +60+=+45+%2B+c+
(2) +c+=+15+
The rate of the current is 15 mi/hr
-----------------------------
check:
(1) +60+=+%28+s+-+c+%29%2A2+
(1) +60+=+%28+45+-+15+%29%2A2+
(1) +60+=+30%2A2+
(1) +60+=+60+
OK