A motorboat maintained a constant speed of 1010 miles per hour relative to the water in going 1212 miles upstream and then returning. The total time for the trip was 2.52.5 hours. Use this information to find the speed of the current.

the speed of the current is 202 mph

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x represent the speed of the current.

Miles travelled while going upstream is 1212

Miles travelled while going downstream is 1212

Assuming the motor boat travelled against the wind while going upstream, the speed would be

(1010 - x) mph

Assuming the motor boat travelled with the wind while going downstream, the speed would be

(1010 + x) mph

Distance = speed × time

Time = distance/speed

Time it took upstream is

1212/(1010 - x)

Time it took downstream is

1212/(1010 + x)

Total time for the trip is 1.5 hours. It means that

1212/(1010 - x) + 1212/(1010 + x) = 2.5

Cross multiplying by (1010 -x)(1010 + x), it becomes

1212(1010 + x) + 1212(1010 - x) =

2.5(1010 - x)(1010 + x)

1224120 + 1212x + 1224120 - 1212x = 2.5(1020100 + 1010x - 1010x - x²)

2448240 = 2550250 - 2.5x²

2.5x² = 102010

x² = 102010/2.5

x² = 40804

x = √40804

x = 202 mph

square root of 36/6 = 2.449489743

square root of 16/6 = 1.632993162

square root of 6 = 2.449489743

the answer is square root of 16/6 because the square root of 36/6 is the same answer as square root of 6 = 2.449489743