Answer:
- Boat speed: 17.25 mph
- Current: 2.5 mph
Step-by-step explanation:
When going upstream, the current's speed (c) reduces the boat's speed (b), resulting in a net speed. Conversely, going downstream, the current's speed adds to the boat's speed. We can use the relation...
speed = distance/time
b - c = 29.5/2 = 14.75..... miles/hour
b + c = 59.25/3 = 19.75....miles/hour
By subtracting the first equation from the second, we arrive at...
(b+c) - (b-c) = 19.75 - 14.75
2c = 5
c = 2.5
Then we can use any of the equations to calculate b:
b = 14.75 + c = 17.25
The boat's speed in still water amounts to 17.25 miles per hour, while the current's speed is 2.5 miles per hour.
