Question

A motor boat travels 60 miles down a river in 3 hours but takes 5 hours to return upstream. Find the rate of the boat in still water and the rate of the current.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that,

A motor boat travels 60 miles down a river in 3 hours but takes 5 hours to return upstream,

We know that,

Speed = distance/time

The rate while moving downstream$=\dfrac{60}{3}=20\ mph$

The rate while moving upstream $=\dfrac{60}{5}=12\ mph$

The rate of the boat in still water is the average of these:

$v_s=\dfrac{20+12}{2}=16\ mph$

The rate of the current is the difference between the boat speed and actual speed = 16 mph - 12 mph = 4 mph

Hence, this is the required solution.