Question

A boat travels upstream for 42 miles in 3 hours and returns in 2 hours traveling downstream in a river. What is the rate of the boat in still water and the rate of the current?

The rate of the boat in still water is : miles per hour

The rate of the current is: miles per hour:

Answer 1

Answer:

17.5 mph

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the speed of the boat in still water be B mph
Let the rate of the current be R mph

When going upstream the effective speed is B-R mph. In terms of values given effective upstream speed = 42/3 = 14 mph

So,

B-R = 14  ... (1)

Similarly downstream speed is  B + R (faster downstream)

B + R = 42/2 = 21 ....  (2)

(1) + (2) ==> 2B = 35

B = 35/2 = 17.5 mph