The speed of a stream is 6 mph If a boat travels 88 miles do

The speed of a stream is 6 mph. If a boat travels 88 miles downstream in the same time that it takes to travel 44 miles upstream, what is the speed of the boat in still water?

Solution

Dear Student Thank you for using Chegg ! Let the speed of boat in still watre be x miles / hour Speed of Stream (Given) = 6 mph Total speed in direction of stream = (x+6) mph Total speed opp. direction of stream = x-6 mph Time taken by boat to travel 88 miles downstream = 88/(x+6) hours Time taken by boat to travel 44 miles upstream = 44/(x-6) hours Since the two times are equal i.e. time upstream = Time downstream 88/(x+6) = 44/(x-6) 2/ (x+ 6) = 1/(x-6) 2x - 12 = x + 6 x = 18 mph Speed of boat in still water is 18 miles per hour