SOLUTION: I may have already sent this but I was not sure I am having trouble with these word problems. A motorboat travels 648km in 9 hours going upstream and 588km in 6 hours going down

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: I may have already sent this but I was not sure I am having trouble with these word problems. A motorboat travels 648km in 9 hours going upstream and 588km in 6 hours going down      Log On


   

Question 176769: I may have already sent this but I was not sure I am having trouble with these word problems.
A motorboat travels 648km in 9 hours going upstream and 588km in 6 hours going downstream. What is the speed of the boat in still water, and what is the speed of the current?

Thank you

Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
------------------
Find the speed upstread and downstream:
648km/9hrs = 72 kph
588km/6hrs = 98 kph
The boat speed is the average of the 2 speeds.
(72+98)/2 = 85 kph
The stream speed is the difference:
98-85 = 13 kph
----------------
Boats don't use kph, they use knots.