Problema Solution
A boat moves at 16 m/h in still water. If the boat travels 20 miles downstream in the same time it takes to travel 14 miles upstream, what is the speed of the current?
Answer provided by our tutors
Let x = the speed of the current.
The speed in downstream is x + 16 mph
The speed in upstream is 16 -x mph
Here is an equation:
20/(x + 16) = 14/(16 - x)
Cross multiply:
14(x + 16) = 20(16 - x)
14x + 224 = 320 - 20x
34x = 96
x = 48/17 = 2.8 mph