SOLUTION: A tugboat can pull a barge 60 miles upstream in 15 hours. the same tugboat and barge can make the return trip downstream in 6 hours. Find the speed of the current in the river
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Question 184761: A tugboat can pull a barge 60 miles upstream in 15 hours. the same tugboat and barge can make the return trip downstream in 6 hours. Find the speed of the current in the river Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! A tugboat can pull a barge 60 miles upstream in 15 hours. the same tugboat and barge can make the return trip downstream in 6 hours. Find the speed of the current in the river
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upstream DATA:
Distance = 60 miles ; time = 15 hrs. ; rate = 60/15 = 4 mph
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Downtream DATA:
Distance = 60 miles ; time = 6 hrs. ; rate = 60/6= 10 mph
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Equations:
b + c = 10 mph (rate downstream of boat + current)
b - c = 4 mph (rate upstream of boat + current)
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Subtract 2nd from 1st to solve for c:
2c = 6
c = 3 mph (rate of the current)
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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