Step 1 :Let's denote the speed of the boat in still water as \(b\) and the speed of the river current as \(c\).
Step 2 :When the boat is moving downstream, the speed of the boat and the current add up. So, the downstream speed is \(b + c\).
Step 3 :When the boat is moving upstream, the speed of the boat is reduced by the speed of the current. So, the upstream speed is \(b - c\).
Step 4 :We know that speed is distance divided by time. So, we can write the downstream speed as \(\frac{30}{2} = 15\) miles per hour and the upstream speed as \(\frac{30}{4} = 7.5\) miles per hour.
Step 5 :Setting these equal to our expressions for downstream and upstream speed, we get the equations \(b + c = 15\) and \(b - c = 7.5\).
Step 6 :Solving this system of equations, we find that \(b = 11.25\) miles per hour and \(c = 3.75\) miles per hour.
Step 7 :Final Answer: The boat's speed in still water is \(\boxed{11.25}\) miles per hour and the speed of the river current is \(\boxed{3.75}\) miles per hour.