SOLUTION: I'm having trouble with a word problem. It states: The current in a stream is 2mph. Find the speed of the boat in still water if it goes 26 miles downstream in the same amount of t

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Question 546452: I'm having trouble with a word problem. It states: The current in a stream is 2mph. Find the speed of the boat in still water if it goes 26 miles downstream in the same amount of time it takes to go 18 miles upstream. I know I should use d=rt, but I don't know how. Thanks!
Answer by mananth(16946) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Boat speed x mph
current speed 2 mph
..
against wind x - 2 mph
with wind x + 2 mph

Distance against current 18
Distance with current 26
Time = same equate the time against to time with current
t=d/r
18 /(x- 2 )= 26 /(x+ 2 )
18 *(x+ 2 )= 26 *(x- 2 )
18 x + 36 = 26 x -52
26 x -18 x = 52 + 36
8 x = 88
/ 8
x= 11 mph
m.ananth@hotmail.ca