If a boat goes 72 miles downstream in 3 hrs and upstream 60 miles in 6 hours, what is the rate of the river and the boat in still water respectively?

What type of wizardry is this?

S=speed of the boat

C=current

Speed upstream = (s-c)

Speed downstream = (s+c)

Distance=time*speed

3 (s+c) = 72

s+c=24

6 (s-c) = 60

s-c=10

Use the elimination process to solve the system of equations

s+c=24; s-c=10

2s=34

s=17 mph boat speed

Find the current:

s+c=24

17+c=24

c=24-17

c=7

Check your solutions: 3 (s+c) = 72 and 6 (s-c) = 60

3 (24) = 72

6 (10) = 60