SOLUTION: A boat travels at the rate of 8 kph in still water. If it can travel a given distance upstream in 5 hours and the same distance downstream in 3 hours, what is the rate of the curre

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Question 175949: A boat travels at the rate of 8 kph in still water. If it can travel a given distance upstream in 5 hours and the same distance downstream in 3 hours, what is the rate of the current?
Answer by vleith(2983) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Distance= Rate * Time
The distance going both directions is the same.
Let c be the speed of the current
DistanceUpstream+=+%288+-+c%29%2A5 = 40+-+5c
DistanceDownStream+=+%288+%2B+c%29%2A3 = 24+%2B+3c
So
40-5c+=+24+%2B+3c
16+=+8c
2+=+c
The current is 2 kph
So how far did the boat travel each way?
(8-2)* 5 = 30k
(8+2)* 3 = 30K