SOLUTION: A motorboat takes 5 hours to travel 150mi going upstream. The return trip takes 3 hours going downstream. What is the rate of the boat in still water and what is the rate of the

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Question 966806: A motorboat takes 5 hours to travel 150mi going upstream. The return trip takes
3 hours going downstream. 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 takes 5 hours to travel 150mi going upstream. The return trip takes
3 hours going downstream. What is the rate of the boat in still water and what is the rate of the current?
***
let x=rate of boat in still water
let c=rate of current
(x+c) rate of boat downstream
(x-c) rate of boat upstream
travel time*rate=distance
..
5(x-c)=150
3(x+c)=150
..
5x-5c=150
3x+3c=150
..
15x-15c=450 (mult. eq. by 3)
15x+15c=750 (mult. eq. by 5)
add
30x=1200
x=40
3c=150-3x=30
c=10
rate of boat in still water=40 mph
rate of current=10 mph