AlgebraVery hardRiver current from two trip times
Algebra practice question
A boat travels 36 kilometers downstream in 2 hours and makes the return trip upstream in 3 hours, the boat's own speed and the current both constant. What is the speed of the current, in kilometers per hour?
Answer: 3
Downstream speed is 18 km/h and upstream is 12 km/h. The current is half the 6 km/h gap: 3 km/h.
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 6
- 6 is the difference between downstream and upstream speeds; the current is half of it.
- If you answered 15
- 15 km/h is the boat's own speed in still water; the current is 3 km/h.
- If you answered 18
- 18 km/h is the downstream speed, boat plus current.
More Algebra questions
- Very hard
For what value of c does the system 3x − 2y = 8 and 9x + cy = 5 have no solution? - Very hard
In the system 5x + 4y = 32 and 3x − 2y = 6, what is the value of 8x + 2y? - Very hard
The solution set of the inequality |ax − b| ≤ 6, where a and b are constants and a > 0, is 3 ≤ x ≤ 9. What is … - Very hard
The function f is linear, and for every value of x, f(x + 2) − f(x) = 6. If f(5) = 4, what is the value of f(0… - Very hard
In the system of equations 2x + 3y = 12 and 5x − 2y = k, where k is a constant, the solution (x, y) satisfies … - Very hard
In the xy-plane, the system of equations kx + 6y = 12 and 2x + (k − 1)y = 6, where k is a constant, has infini…
Not affiliated with the College Board. SAT is a trademark of the College Board.