Question

Adam and Gloria traveled in a sailboat for 4 hours with a 6 mph current in the water. Against the same current, it took them 6 hours to return home. How fast was the boat traveling in still water?

Answer 1

i suck at word problems, i dont even know where to start or how to finish.

Answer 2

we can do this

Answer 3

using distance equals rate times time, or \(D=RT\)
lets call the rate in still water r and so the rate with the current is \(r+6\) and the rate agains the current is \(r-6\)
the time with the current is 4 hours, so the distance with the current is
\[4(r+6)\]
the time against the current is 6 hours so the distance against the current is
\[6(r-6)\]

Answer 4

but the two distances (whatever they are) are obviously the same, so that means the expression above are equal, so your job is to solve
\[4(r+6)=6(r-6)\] for \(r\)