SOLUTION: Helping my child do her math and could use some help. A person rowed her boat upstream a distance of 60 mil then rowed back to the starting point. The total time for the trip w

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Question 863008: Helping my child do her math and could use some help.
A person rowed her boat upstream a distance of 60 mil then rowed back to the starting point. The total time for the trip was 16 hours. If the rate of the current was 2 mph, find the average speed of the boat in still water.
Many thanks in advance,
Answer by ewatrrr(24785) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Hi

60%2F%28s-2%29+%2B+60%2F%28s%2B2%29+=+16

 60(s+2) + 60(s-2) = 16(s+2)(s-2)

 30(s+2) + 30(s-2) = 8(s+2)(s-2)

   60s = 8(s^2 - 4)

    8s^2 - 60s -32 = 0

    2s^2 -15x - 8 = 0    

   (2s +1)(s -8) = 0    (Tossing out the negative solution for unit measure)

           s = 8mph

  CHECKING our answer***

60%2F6+%2B+60%2F10+=+16hr

Wish You the Best in your Studies.