SOLUTION: a cruise boat travels 96 miles down stream in 3hours and return upstream in 6 hours. find the rate of the stream.

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Question 712773: a cruise boat travels 96 miles down stream in 3hours and return upstream in 6 hours. find the rate of the stream.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +s+ = the rate of the stream in mi/hr
Let +b+ = the rate of the boat with no current in mi/hr
-----------
Going upstream, speed =
+b+-+s+ mi/hr
Going downstream, speed =
+b+%2B+s+ mi/hr
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given:
+b+%2B+s+=+96%2F3+
+b+%2B+s+=+32+ mi/hr
and
+b+-+s+=+96%2F6+
+b+-+s+=+16+ mi/hr
-------------------
Add the equations
+b+%2B+s+=+32+
+b+-+s+=+16+
+2b+=+48+
+b+=+24+
and, since
+b+%2B+s+=+32+
+24+%2B+s+=+32+
+s+=+8+
The speed of the stream is 8 mi/hr