Question

A boat travels upstream on the Mississippi river for 3.5 hours. The return trip only takes 2.5 hours because the boat travels 2 miles per hour faster downstream due to the current. How far does the boat travel upstream? Which is the best equation to use?

Answer 1

17.5 miles per hour

Explanation:

A boat travels upstream on a Mississippi river for 3.5 hours

The return trip takes 2.5 hours

The boat travels 2 miles per hour faster downstream

Let y represent the speed that was travelled upsteam

3.5y = 2.5(y + 2)

3.5y = 2.5y + 5

3.5y - 2.5y = 5

y = 5

Therefore the distance travelled by the boat upstream can be calculated as follows

= 3.5 × 5

= 17.5 miles per hour