A boat traveling downstream can travel 10 miles in 1/2 hour. The same distance traveling upstream will take 2 hours. What is the speed of the boat and the rate of the current?

1 answer

speed of boat in still water ---- x mph
speed of current ---- y mph

(1/2)(x+y) = 10
x + y = 20

2(x-y) = 10
x - y = 5

add them
2x = 25
x = 12.5
then y = 7.5

state the conclusion.