Question

Going against the current, a boat takes 6 hours to make a 120-mile trip. When the boat travels with the current on the return trip, it takes 5 hours.
If x = the rate of the boat in still water and y = the rate of the current, which of the following expressions represents the rate of the boat going with the current?

x - y
x + y
xy

Answer 1

Answer: $x+y$

Step-by-step explanation:

Given: Going against the current, a boat takes 6 hours to make a 120-mile trip. When the boat travels with the current on the return trip, it takes 5 hours.

Clearly , it can be seen that when boat travels with current , it takes competitively less time.

i.e. the speed of the boat would increased by the current.

If x = the rate of the boat in still water and y = the rate of the current, then the expressions represents the rate of the boat going with the current will be :-

$x+y$

Answer 2

Against the current it was going 20mph with the current it was going 24mph , it should be x+y because rate of the boat and rate of the current combined equals the rate of the boat WITH the current