A motorboat takes 3 hours to travel 144 km going upstream. The trip takes 2 hours going downstream. What is the rate of the boat in still water and what is the rate of the current? Rate of the boat still in water: Rate of the current:

let x be rate of boat in still water
let y be rate of current

we use this equation to relate quantities:
distance = speed · time

we have two unknowns so we might need to create a system of equationss

upstream:

speed (in km/h) = x - y
(we get speed of boat then subtract the current's speed from it since current is going against boat direction)

time = 3 hours

distance = 144 km

downstream:

speed (in hm/h) = x + y
(we get speed of boat then add the current's spd from it since current is going against boat direction)

time = 2 hours

distance = 144 km (same distance upstream and downstream)

using distance = speed times time

for upstream
144 =  3(x-y)
144 = 3x - 3y

for downstream
144 = 2(x+y)
72 = x + y

system of eqns:
144 = 3x - 3y
72 = x + y

solve by substitution: move 72 = x + y into x = 72 - y and subst into other equation for x

144 = 3(72 - y) - 3y
144 = 216 - 3y - 3y
144 = 216 - 6y
144 - 216 = -6y
-72 = -6y
y = 12 km/h

Use x = 72 - y to find x with y = 12: x = 72 - 12 = 60 km/h

rate of boat in still water is 60 km/h
rate of the current is 12 km/h