Question

A boat takes 4 hours to go 20 miles upstream. It can go 32 miles downstream in the same time. Find the rate of the current and the rate of the boat in still water.

Answer 1

upstream

4(boat-current) = 20

(boat-current)=5

Downstream

4(boat + current) = 32

(Boat + current)=8

Boat + current = 8

Boat – current =5

2 boat = 13

Boat = 13/2 = 6.5 miles per hour in still water

6.5 + current = 8

Current = 8-6.5 = 1.5 miles per hour