SOLUTION: A boat takes 4 hours to go 16 miles upstream. It can go 32 miles downstream in the same time. Find the rate of the current and the rate of the boat in still water. (Hint: Because t

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Travel -> SOLUTION: A boat takes 4 hours to go 16 miles upstream. It can go 32 miles downstream in the same time. Find the rate of the current and the rate of the boat in still water. (Hint: Because t      Log On

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Question 911413: A boat takes 4 hours to go 16 miles upstream. It can go 32 miles downstream in the same time. Find the rate of the current and the rate of the boat in still water. (Hint: Because the current pushes the boat when it is going downstream, the rate of the boat downstream is the sum of the rate of the boat and the rate of the current. The current slows down the boat when it is going upstream, so the rate of the boat upstream is the difference of the rate of the boat and the rate of the current.)
Answer by richwmiller(17219) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
r*t=d
with the current
(r+c)*4=32
(r+c)=32/4
r+c=8
against the current
(r-c)*4=16
(r-c)=16/4
r-c=4
r+c=8
add
r+r=4+8
2r=12
r=6
r=6 boat mph
6-c=4
c=6-4
c=2 mph current
check
(6+2)*4=32
8*4=32
32=32
ok
(r-c)*4=16
(6-2)*4=16
4*4=16
16=16
ok