Question

Need some guidance on this please...


A tugboat goes 120 miles upstream in 20 hours. The return trip downstream takes 10 hours. Find the speed of the tugboat without a current and the speed of the current.
The speed of the tugboat is ( ) mph, and the speed of the current is ( ) mph.

Answer 1

let v be speed of boat, and c be speed of current

"upstream" is against current so subtract .... v-c
"downstream" is with current so add ... v+c

net speed is simply distance over time
\[v-c = \frac{120}{20}\]
\[v+c = \frac{120}{10}\]
simplify and solve system using either substitution or elimination

Answer 2

6 mph
12mph
??

Answer 3

yes,
120/20 = 6
and
120/10 = 12

but you still need to find v and c

Answer 4

i am unsure how to do those steps, I am not sure what I am doing at all actually LOL

Answer 5

ok think of it this way..

what are 2 numbers which add to 12, but their difference is 6 ?

Answer 6

6+6 is 12
4+8 is 12

Answer 7

"but their difference is 6"

Answer 8

6-6 = 0
8-4 = 4

no good, they have to subtract to 6

Answer 9

12-6=6

Answer 10

9-3=6

Answer 11

3+9 =12

Answer 12

and it's difference is 6

Answer 13

Is that right 3+9=12
So 3mph and 9mph
for V & C?
Am I on the right track ?

Answer 14

you are correct

the boat is going 9mph ...and then you either add or subtract the current of 3 mph

Answer 15

A tugboat goes 120 miles upstream in 20 hours. The return trip downstream takes 10 hours. Find the speed of the tugboat without a current and the speed of the current.
The speed of the tugboat is ( 9 ) mph, and the speed of the current is ( 12 ) mph. (i would add the 3 to find the current?) Can you check this.

Answer 16

I think I confused myself somehow.

Answer 17

Hope my answer is right