Step 1:
If the rate of current is x mph, the speed of the boat in still water 12 mph is reduced by the rate of the current when it is going against the current. . So the the net speed of the boat against the current is 12 - x mph.
Step 2
[tex]\frac{16}{12-\text{ x}}\text{ = 2}[/tex]Step 3
Solve for x
[tex]\begin{gathered} 2(\text{ 12 - x ) = 16} \\ 24\text{ - 2x = 16} \\ \text{24 - 16 = 2x} \\ 8\text{ = 2x} \\ \text{x = }\frac{8}{2} \\ \text{x = 4} \end{gathered}[/tex]Final answer
So the rate of the current is 4mph
