SOLUTION: A logging barge on the Mississippi River travels 24 miles upstream in 3 hours. The return trip take the barge only 2 hours. Find the rate of the barge in still water.

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Question 693405: A logging barge on the Mississippi River travels 24 miles upstream in 3 hours. The return trip take the barge only 2 hours. Find the rate of the barge in still water.
Answer by pmatei(79) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Speed is distance divided by time.
Going upstream slows you down by the speed of the river
v%5Bbarge%5D-v%5Briver%5D=%2824miles%29%2F%283hours%29=8mph
Going downstream you go faster:
v%5Bbarge%5D%2Bv%5Briver%5D=%2824miles%29%2F%282hours%29=12mph
If you add the two equations, v%5Briver%5D cancels and you get:
2v%5Bbarge%5D=20mph
v%5Bbarge%5D=10mph