Question

A boat can travel 16 miles up a river
in 2 hours. The same boat can travel 36 miles down in 3 hours. What is the speed of the boat in still water ? What is the speed of the current ?​

Answer 1

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the speed of the boat is still water = u

Let the speed of the water in the river = v

Given,

Boat can travel 16 miles in 2 hours upstream

=> Speed upstream = 16/2 =8 miles/hour

Boat can travel 36 miles in 3 hours downstream

=> Speed downstream = 36/3 = 12 miles/hour

Therefore,

u - v = 8   ------> (i)

u + v = 12 ------> (ii)

Adding equations (i) and (ii), we get,

2u = 20

=> u = 10

Therefore,

Speed of boat in still water = 10 miles/hour