Problema Solution

Kellen’s boat travels 12 mph . Find the rate of the river current if she can travel 10mi upstream in the same amount of time she can go 14 mi downstream.

Answer provided by our tutors

Let

x = the rate of the river current

12 - x = the rate of the boat when traveling upstream

d1 = 10 mi the distance the boat traveled upstream

12 + x = the rate of the boat when traveling downstream

d1 = 14 mi the distance the boat traveled downstream

t = the time of the travel

Using the formula:

Rate = Distance/Time 

We see that the formula for time is:

Time = Distance/Rate

Now we can write:

d1/(12 - x) = d2/(12 + x)

10/(12 - x) = 14/(12 + x)

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click here to see the step by step solution for x

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x = 2 mph

The rate of the river current is 2 mph.