Answer:
The speed of the current is 1 mph.
Step-by-step explanation:
Let c be the speed of the current.
Speed of boat in cal water = 5 mph
Speed of boat in upstream = (5-c) mph
Speed of boat in downstream = (5+c) mph
Formula for distance:
[tex]distance=speed \times time[/tex]
It is given that it takes the boat 3 hours to travel upstream but only 2 hours to travel the same distance downstream.
[tex](5-c)\times 3=(5+c)\times 2[/tex]
[tex]15-3c=10+2c[/tex]
Isolate variable terms.
[tex]-3c-2c=10-15[/tex]
[tex]-5c=-5[/tex]
Divide both sides by -5.
[tex]c=1[/tex]
Therefore the speed of the current is 1 mph.
