Question 847149
A boat on a river traveled 16 miles in 20 minutes going downstream. The boat can hold 15 gallons of gas. It takes 30 minutes for the boat to travel back upstream to where it started. Find the speed of the current.
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Downstream DATA:
dist = 16 miles ; time = 1/3 hr ; rate = d/t = 16/(1/3) = 48 mph
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Upstream DATA:
dist = 16 miles ; time = 1/2 hr ; rate = d/t = 16/(1/2) = 32 mph
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Equations:
Downstream:: b + c = 48 mph
Upstream ::: b - c = 32 mph
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Subtract and solve for "c":
2c = 16
current = 8 mph
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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