A sailboat travels 20 miles downstream in 3 hours It returns
A sailboat travels 20 miles downstream in 3 hours. It returns in 4 hours. Find the speed of the sailboat in still water and the rate of the current. (using the 5- step method )
Solution
distance= 20 miles; time = 3 hrs ; rate = 20/3 hrs
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 Upstream DATA:
 distance = 20 miles; time = 4 hrs ; rate = 20/4 = 5 hrs
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 Let speed in still water be \"b\"
 Let speed of the current be \"c\"
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 EQUATION:
 b+c=20/3
 b-c=5
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 Add the two equations:
 2b = 35/3
 b = 35/6 mph (speed of the boat in still water)
 Solve for c:
 35/6 + c = 40/6
 c=5/6 mph (speed of the current)

