A boat is rowed down a river a distance of 16 miles in 2 hours and it is rowed upstream the same distance in 8 hours. Let r represent the rate of the boat in still water in miles per hour, and let c represent the rate of the stream in miles per hour. Write the equation. What is the still water speed and rate of the stream?

1 answer

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

2(x+y) = 16
x+y = 8

8(x-y) = 16
x-y = 2

add them
2x = 10
x = 5, then y = 3

state the conclusions.