A motorboat travels 248 mi in 4 hours going upstream. It travels 368mi going downstream in the same amount of time. What is the rate of the boat in still water and what is the rate of the current?

Question

A motorboat travels 248 mi  in 4 hours going upstream. It travels 368mi  going downstream in the same amount of time. What is the rate of the boat in still water and what is the rate of the current?

hero · Answer

Hmmm, I could have sworn someone helped you out with this question before

hero · Answer

Use d = rt and r = (b ± c) to solve

hero · Answer

Upstream Equation: 248 = (b-c)4
Downstream Equation 368 = (b+c)4

hero · Answer

248/4 = b - c
368/4 = b + c

62 = b - c
92 = b + c

b = 62 + c
b = 92 - c

2b = 154
  b = 154/2
  
b = 77
c = 15