Question

Alex goes on a river boat tour while on vacation. The maximum speed of the boat in still water is 13 miles per

hour. The boat travels 24 miles downstream in the same amount of time it takes the boat to travel 15 miles
against the current. What is the equation to solve for the rate of the current?

Answer 1

The equation to solve is

`(24)/(13+s)=(15)/(13-s)`

The rate of the current s is 3 mph

Explanation:

Remember that

The speed is equal to divide the distance by the time

so

The time is equal to divide the distance by the speed

Let

s ---> the rate or speed of the current in mph

we know that

The linear equation that represent this situation is

`(24)/(13+s)=(15)/(13-s)`

solve for s

`24(13-s)=15(13+s)`

`312-24s=195+15s\\24s+15s=312-195\\39s=117\\s=3\ mph`