Problema Solution
The speed of a stream is 4mph. A boat travels 6 miles upstream in the same time it takes to travel 14 miles downstream. What is the speed of the boat in still water.
Answer provided by our tutors
let
s = 4 mph the speed of the stream
v = the speed of the boat in still water
the speed of the boat upstream is: v - s
the speed of the boat downstream is: v + s
boat travels 6 miles upstream in the same time it takes to travel 14 miles downstream
6/(v - s) = 14/(v + s) (since time = distance/speed)
6/(v - 4) = 14/(v + 4)
by solving we find
v = 10 mph
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the speed of the boat in still water is 10 mph.