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| Question 169934:  A boat can travel 36 mmiles downstream in 2 hours. Coming back upstream the trip takes 3 hours. Find the rate of the boat in still water and the rate of the current.
 b be average speed of boat,
 c = average current.
 gives
 2(b+c)= 36
 3(b-c)= 36
 expanding
 ..
 2b+2c=36....divide by 2, b+c=18 giving 3b+3c=54
 3b-3c=36..given
 ..
 3b+3c=54...eqn 1
 3b-3c=36...eqn 2
 subtract eqn 2 from 1
 6c=18
 c=3
 b=15
 Rate of boat = 15 mph
 Current      =  3mph
 
 
 Answer by rajagopalan(174)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Let b be average speed of boat,
 c = average current.
 gives
 2(b+c)= 36
 3(b-c)= 36
 expanding
 ..
 2b+2c=36....divide by 2, b+c=18 giving 3b+3c=54
 3b-3c=36..given
 ..
 3b+3c=54...eqn 1
 3b-3c=36...eqn 2
 subtract eqn 2 from 1
 6c=18
 c=3
 b=15
 ...
 Answer:
 Rate of boat = 15 mph
 Current      =  3mph
 
 
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