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A motorboat takes four hours to travel 128 km going upstream the return trip takes two hours going down stream. what is the rate of the boat in a still? water what is the rate of the current?

A motorboat takes four hours to travel 128 km going upstream the return trip takes-example-1
User JamesW
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1 Answer

5 votes
Answer:

The rate of the boat in still water is 48 km/h

The rate of current is 16 km/h

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the rate of the current be represented by c

Let the rate of the boat in still water be represented by r

The distance traveled by the boat, d = 128 km

Time taken by the boat to travel upstream, t₁ = 4 hours

The speed of the boat upstream, v₁ = d/t₁

The speed of the boat upstream, v₁ = 128/4

The speed of the boat upstream, v₁ = 32 km/h

Rate of the boat in still water - Rate of current = The speed of the boat upstream

r - c = v₁

r - c = 32...............................(1)

The time taken by the boat to travel downstream, t₂ = 2 hours

The speed of the boat downstream, v₂ = d/t₂

The speed of the boat downstream, v₂ = 128/2

The speed of the boat downstream, v₂ = 64 km/h

Rate of the boat in still water - Rate of current = The speed of the boat downstream

r + c = v₂

r + c = 64......................(2)

Subtract equation (1) from equation (2)

2c = 64 - 32

2c = 32

c = 32/2

c = 16 km/h

Substitute c = 16 into equation (1)

r - c = 32

r - 16 = 32

r = 32 + 16

r = 48 km/h

The rate of the boat in still water is 48 km/h

The rate of current is 16 km/h

User Meduz
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