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A boat moves through the water in a river at a speed of 8 m/s relative to the water. The boat makes a trip downstream and then makes a return trip upstream to the original starting place. Which trip takes longer?

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Final answer:

The trip upstream takes longer than the trip downstream.

Step-by-step explanation:

The trip upstream takes longer than the trip downstream.

When the boat travels downstream, it moves in the same direction as the river's current, which adds to its speed. As a result, the boat covers a greater distance in the same amount of time, making the trip downstream faster.

On the other hand, when the boat travels upstream, it moves against the river's current, which reduces its speed. This causes the boat to cover a shorter distance in the same amount of time, making the trip upstream slower.

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