a boat which moves at 36 mph in still water, travels 28 miles downstream in the same amount of time that it takes to travel 20 miles upstream

Question

Find the speed of the current

Answer 1

d=rt

distance = rate of speed times time traveled

d= (36+c)t= 26

(36-c)t = 20 where c= speed of the current

t= 26/(36+c) = 20/(36-c)

cross multiply

26(36-c) = 20(36+c)

26(36) - 26c = 20(36) + 20c

46c = 26(36) - 20(36) = 6(36)

46c = 6(36)

23c = 3(36) = 108

c = 108/23 mph

c = about 4.7 mph = speed of the current