Question 564905
A boy can row a boat at a constant rate of 5 mi/hr in still water, as indicated in the figure. He rows upstream for 26 minutes and then rows downstream, returning to his starting point in another 14 minutes. (a) Find the rate of the current. (b) Find the total distance traveled.
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let c=rate of current
let d=distance traveled one-way
..
speed downstream=5+c
speed upstream=5-c
distance=speed*travel time
travel time upstream=26 min=26/60 hr=13/30 hr 
travel time downstream=14 min=14/60 hr=7/30 hr
..
(5+c)*7/30=(5-c)*13/30
(35+7c)=(65-13c)
20c=30
c=30/20=3/2 mph
..
d=(5+c)*7/30
d=(5+3/2)*7/30≈1.5 mi
ans:
rate of the current=1.5 mph
total distance traveled≈3.0 mi