Question

A steamer going downstream covered the distance between two ports in 3 hours. The return trip took 3 hrs and 40 min. Find the speed of the current if the speed of the steamer in still water is 18 mph.

Answer 1

The speed of the current is 12 mph.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x be the speed of the current and y be the speed of the steamer in still water. We know that the speed downstream is y + x and the speed upstream is y - x. We are also given that the distance between the two ports is d.

Using the given information, we can write down two equations:

d = (y + x) * 3

d = (y - x) * 3.6667

We can solve for x by eliminating y from these equations. Multiplying the first equation by 3.6667 and subtracting the second equation, we get:

3.6667d - d = 11x

Solving for x, we get:

x = 0.6667d

We are given that y = 18 mph. Plugging this value into the equation for x, we get:

x = 0.6667 * 18 mph = 12 mph

Therefore, the speed of the current is 12 mph.