SOLUTION: It took a boat 5 hours to travel upstream and back. The current was 3mi/hr and the return trip took 1 hour. What is the speed of the boat in still water?

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Question 273063: It took a boat 5 hours to travel upstream and back. The current was 3mi/hr and the return trip took 1 hour. What is the speed of the boat in still water?
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
It took a boat 5 hours to travel upstream and back. The current was 3mi/hr and the return trip took 1 hour. What is the speed of the boat in still water?
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Upstream DATA:
time = 4 hrs ; rate = b-3 mph ; distance = rt = 4(b-3) miles
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Downstream DATA:
time = 1 hr ; rate = b+3 mph ; distance = rt = b+3 miles
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Equation:
distance = distance:
4(b-3) = b+3
4b-12 = b+3
3b = 15
b = 5 mph (boat speed in still water)
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Cheers,
Stan H.