SOLUTION: a motorboat travels 217 miles in 7 hours It travels 343 mi going downstream in the same amount of time. What is the rate of the boat in still water and what is the rate of the curr

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Question 961342: a motorboat travels 217 miles in 7 hours It travels 343 mi going downstream in the same amount of time. What is the rate of the boat in still water and what is the rate of the current?
Answer by lwsshak3(11628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
a motorboat travels 217 miles in 7 hours It travels 343 mi going downstream in the same amount of time. What is the rate of the boat in still water and what is the rate of the current?
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let x=rate of motorboat in still water
let c=rate of current
x+c=rate of motorboat downstream
x-c=rate of motorboat upstream
..
7(x-c)=217
7(x+c)=343
..
7x-7c=217
7x+7c=343
add
14x=560
x=40
7c=343-7x=343-280=63
c=9
rate of motorboat in still water=40 mph
rate of current=9 mph