Question 276870
A boat traveled 16 miles down a river and then returned. The total time for the round trip was 6 hours, and the rate of the boat instill water is 6 mph. Find the rate of the current.

Let the speed of the current be x

down the river its speed will be 6+x .  Time taken = 16/ 6-x hours

against the flow the speed will be 6-x.  Time taken = 16/  6-x  hours

Time taken down the river + time taken up the river = 6
16/ 6-x + 16/ 6+x = 6

96-16x+96+16x / (6+x)(6-x)  = 6

192 = 6* (36-x^2)

192=216 - 6x^2

192-216= 6x^2

-24 = 6x^2

x^2 -= -24/-6

x^2=4

x=2  the rate of the current