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A boat on a river travels 20 miles downstream in only 2 hours. It takes the same boat 6 hours to travel 12 miles upstream. What are the speed of the boat and speed of the current?

math
 Aug 24, 2014

Best Answer 

 #1
avatar+118578 
+10

When traveling downstream speed = boat + current = 20miles in 2 hours = 10miles/hour

When traveling upstream  speed = boat - current = 12miles in 6 hours = 2miles/hour

 

so we have 2 equations which must be solved simultaneously.

B+C=10

B-C=2

add and we get

2B=12

B=6

subtract and we get

2C=8

c=4

So the boat is traveling at 6 miles per hour and the current is traveling at 4 miles/hour.

 Aug 24, 2014
 #1
avatar+118578 
+10
Best Answer

When traveling downstream speed = boat + current = 20miles in 2 hours = 10miles/hour

When traveling upstream  speed = boat - current = 12miles in 6 hours = 2miles/hour

 

so we have 2 equations which must be solved simultaneously.

B+C=10

B-C=2

add and we get

2B=12

B=6

subtract and we get

2C=8

c=4

So the boat is traveling at 6 miles per hour and the current is traveling at 4 miles/hour.

Melody Aug 24, 2014
 #2
avatar+127752 
0

Very nice, Melody.......

 

 Aug 24, 2014
 #3
avatar+118578 
0

Thank you Chris,

I really liked this little question.

I've asked Ninja to include it in he sample questions.  

 Aug 25, 2014

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