SOLUTION: Ed Plawski's fishing boat travels 4 hours downstream with a 6-mph current. Returning, against the current, takes 5 hours. Find the speed of Ed's boat.

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: Ed Plawski's fishing boat travels 4 hours downstream with a 6-mph current. Returning, against the current, takes 5 hours. Find the speed of Ed's boat.      Log On


   

Question 1074469: Ed Plawski's fishing boat travels 4 hours downstream with a 6-mph current. Returning, against the current, takes 5 hours. Find the speed of Ed's boat.
Answer by Boreal(15235) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
speed*time=distance
speed of boat is x
(x+6)*4=4(x+6) miles
(x-6)*5=5(x-6) miles
The two distances are equivalent. Set them equal to each other and distribute.
4x+24=5x-30
x=54 mph boat speed ANSWER
downstream at 60 mph for 4 hours is 240 miles
upstream at 48 mph for 5 hours is 240 miles