9mph is the boat's actual speed. 12mph with the stream and 6mph against the stream. 12mph takes 2 hours to get there and 6mph takes 4 to get back = 6hours.
431.2+826.4d=2910.4 431.2 is only the first day therefore it doesn't need the variable because the variable represents the number of days. 826.4 even says "each remaining day" referring to what the variable represents.