Question

A boat has a speed of 5 mph in calm water. It takes the boat 3 hours to travel upstream but only 2 hours to travel the same distance downstream. Using the data in the table, what is the value of c, the speed of the current?

Answer 1

Ok so,

downstream speed; 5 + c
upstream speed; 5 - c
It takes 3 hours to travel upstream & only 2 hours to ttravel downstream
Let's make an equation,
2(5 + c) = 3(5 - c)
10 + 2c = 15 + 3c
5c = 5
5 / 5 = 1

C = 1
Hope this helps!

Answer 2

The speed of the current is 1 mph.

Explanation:

Let c be the speed of the current.

Speed of boat in cal water = 5 mph

Speed of boat in upstream = (5-c) mph

Speed of boat in downstream = (5+c) mph

Formula for distance:

`distance=speed * time`

It is given that it takes the boat 3 hours to travel upstream but only 2 hours to travel the same distance downstream.

`(5-c)* 3=(5+c)* 2`

`15-3c=10+2c`

Isolate variable terms.

`-3c-2c=10-15`

`-5c=-5`

Divide both sides by -5.

`c=1`

Therefore the speed of the current is 1 mph.