A motorboat takes 4 hours to travel 128mi going upstream The

A motorboat takes 4 hours to travel 128mi going upstream. The return trip takes 2 hours going downstream. What is the rate of the boat in still water and what is the rate of the current?

Solution

First, lets write some equations from the given information using the general equation D=RT:

Upstream:

128mi=(R-C)(4 hours)

Where \'R\' is the rate of the boat and \'C\' is the rate of the current)

Downstream:

128mi=(R+C)(2 hours)

Where \'R\' is the rate of the boat and \'C\' is the rate of the current)

Using Algebrator to solve for \'R\' and \'C\', we get:

C=16 mph

R=48 mph