Help with Uniform Motion

[ProdigaI]

A motor boat can maintain a constant speed of 50 miles per hour relative to the water. The boat makes a trip upstream to a certain point in 57 minutes; the return trip takes 43 minutes. What is the speed of the current?

Please help, I just can't figure out this problem

Thanks : )

 

[Denis]

Hint (d = distance; c = current's speed):
with current: d = 43/60(50 + c)
against current: d = 57/60(50 - c)

Solve for c

 

[ProdigaI]

thanks but how do i find what the current is if i don't know what the distance is

 

[mmm4444bot]

We do not need the actual distance because we have two different expressions for d.

Write an equation, and solve for c.

 

[ProdigaI]

What type of equation would i write. Sorry i'm just having a hard time understanding how to find c

 

[mmm4444bot]

I would write the type of equation which states that the expression on the lefthand side is equal to the expression on the righthand side.

d = d

Denis gave you a BIG hint by providing two different expressions for the unknown distance d.

(43/60)(50 + c) = (57/60)(50 - c)

Are you a returning student? If you need a review on solving basic linear equations, then try some lessons at THIS SITE.