Question 1099109:  Alvin paddled for 5 hours with a 3-km/h current to reach a campsite. The return trip against the same current took 8 hours.
 
What is the speed of the boat in still water? 
 
 Answer by Theo(13342)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! rate * time = distance.
 
 
let r = rate and t = time and d = distance
 
 
going downstream, the formula becomes (r+3) * 5 = d 
coming back upstream, the formula becomes (r-3) * 8 = d
 
 
the distance downstream is the same as the distance upstream, so (r+3) * 5 = (r-3) * 8
 
 
simplify to get 5r + 15 = 8r - 24
 
 
subtract 5r from both sides of this equation and add 24 to both sides of this equation to get 39 = 3r
 
 
solve for r to get r = 39/3 = 13
 
 
he paddles at 13 kilometers per hour.
 
 
going downstream, the stream adds 3 kilometers per hours to this to get 16 kilometers per hour for 5 hours = 80 kilometers.
 
 
coming back upstream, the stream subtracts 3 kilometers from this to get 10 kilometers per hour for 8 hours = 80 kilometers.
 
 
the distance downstream and upstream is the same at 80 kilometers.
 
 
the speed of the boat is 13 kilometers per hour 
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