To find:
The rate of the current.
Solution:
Given that the speed of boat in still water is 16 mph.
From the question, we have that it takes 1 hour longer to travel 74 miles going upstream than going downstream. So,
[tex]\begin{gathered} \frac{74}{16-x}-\frac{74}{16+x}=1 \\ \frac{74(16+x)-74(16-x)}{16^2-x^2}=1 \\ 1184+74x-1184+74x=256-x^2 \\ 148x=256-x^2 \\ x^2+148x-256=0 \end{gathered}[/tex]
On solving, the above quadratic equation, we get x = 1.70997.
Thus, the rate of current is 1.70997.
