Question

A small motor boat can travel downstream at a distance of 72 miles in 3 hours. The return trip against the current takes 4 hours. Find the speed of the cujrrent and the rate of the boat? The table I have is Rate Time and Distance...I am totally lost on this

Answer 1

let speed of boat= X mph
     sped of current=  Y mph          
As per question 3(X+Y)=72   
                   and 4(X-Y)=72
hence  3X+3Y=4X-4Y
         ⇒       X=7Y
Substituting value of X we get⇒ 24Y=72
                                            ⇒    Y=3
                                     and X=7×3=21
Speed of current is 3 mph and boat is 2 mph