The rate of the current is 2.03 mph if the small motorboat travels 8mph in still water. It takes 3 hours longer to travel 44 miles going upstream than it does going downstream.
<h3>What is a quadratic equation?</h3>Any equation of the form Where x is variable and a, b, and c are any real numbers where a ≠ 0 is called a quadratic equation.
Let's suppose the rate of the current = r
The time it takes to go downstream + 4 hours = time to go upstream
As we know the:
Now,
After solving:
After cross multiplication
44(8+r) - 44(8-r) = 3(8+r)(8-r)
88r = 3(64 - r²)
3r² + 88r - 192 = 0
After solving the above quadratic equation, we get:
r = 2.03 or
r=−31.37 (reject as it is negative)
So, the r =2.03 mph
Thus, the rate of the current is 2.03 mph if the small motorboat travels 8mph in still water. It takes 3 hours longer to travel 44 miles going upstream than it does going downstream.
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