In: Math
A tugboat goes 24 miles upstream and 28 miles downstream in a total of 8 hours on a river that has a current of 3 mph. Find the speed of the tugboat in still water.
Let the speed of tugboat in still water be x mph.
We know that time =
distance/speed
Upstream time:
Distance = 24 miles
Speed = Speed of tugboat - speed of current = x - 3
Downstream time:
Distance = 28 miles
Speed = Speed of tugboat + speed of current = x + 3
According to the question,
Total time = 8
Speed is positive to complete the task:
x = 15/2 = 7.5 mph
The speed of the tugboat in
still water is 7.5 mph.