Question

A motorboat travels 464 kilometers in 8 hours going upstream and 540 kilometers in 6 hours going downstream. What is the rate of the bot in still water and what is the rate of the current?

Answer 1

rate 72 mph; current 16 mph

Explanation:

to find the rate of the boat and the current we can model the equation like this

let r = rate

let c = current

8(r - c) = 464

6(r + c) = 540

8r - 8c = 464

6r + 6c = 540

r - c = 58

r + c = 90

then you could use elimination to find r

2r = 148

r = 74

the rate is 74 mph

then plug it in

the current is 16 mph