Question 912742
Gertrude rows her boat 24 miles downstream in 4 hours. In order to make the return trip upstream in the same amount of time, the rate of the boat in still water was doubled. Find the rate of the current and the rate that Gertrude was rowing downstream.
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Downstream DATA:
dist = 24 miles : time = 4 hrs ; rate = 24/4 = 6 mph
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Upstream DATA:
dist = 24 miles ; time = 4 hrs ; rate = 24/4 = 6 mph
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Equations:
b + c = 6
2b -c = 6
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Add and solve for "b":
3b = 12
b = 4 mph (rate of the boat in still water)
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Solve for "c":
b + c = 6
4 + c = 6
c = 2 mph (original current rate)
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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