SOLUTION: Wanda paddles six miles downstream in 1 hour and her friend minnie rowing 1 mph faster goes upstream 6 miles in 2 hours. Find the speed of the current and the girls speeds I tr

Question 671640: Wanda paddles six miles downstream in 1 hour and her friend minnie rowing 1 mph faster goes upstream 6 miles in 2 hours. Find the speed of the current and the girls speeds
I tried b-c=3mph
b+c=6mph and tried to solve out from there but the extra mile per hour is throwing me off
Any help greatly appreciated.
thanks
Answer by DrBeeee(684) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You need to set up the appropriate algebraic equations - not just try a few numbers etc.
Let W = Wanda's speed
Let S = the stream's speed
Let F = Friend's speed
Now what do we know?
(1) W + S = 6, as Wanda goes 6mi in 1 hr downstream (with the current, so add)
(2) F - S = 3, as her friend goes 6mi in 2hr (6hr/2hr = 3mph) upstream (so subtract) and
(3) F = W +1, because we are told that Wanda's friend paddles 1 mph faster than Wanda.
Now for the algebra. If we add equation (1) to equation (2) we get
(4) W + S + F - S = 6 + 3 or
(5) W + F = 9, OK so far?
Now substitute F of (3) into (5) and get
(6) W + (W + 1) = 9 or
(7) 2*W = 8 or
(8) W = 4
Using (8) in (3) we have
(9) F = 4 + 1 or
(10) F = 5
Using (1) we get
(11) W + S = 6 or
(12) 4 + S = 6 or
(13) S = 2
Let's check these values using (2).
Is (F - S = 3)?
Is (5 - 2 = 3)?
Is (3 = 3)? Yes
Answer: Wanda paddles at 4 mph and her friend paddles at 5 mph and the stream is moving at 2 mph.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Wanda paddles six miles downstream in 1 hour and her friend minnie rowing 1 mph faster... (answered by MathTherapy)

Emily rows six miles downstream in 1 hour and her friend Ashley, rowing 1 mile per hour... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)

Please show the complete solution to these two related problems; Emily rows six... (answered by jorel1380)

Emily rows 6 miles down stream in 1 hour and her friend Ashley,rowing 1 mile per hour... (answered by dfrazzetto)

Emily rows 6 miles downstream in 1 hour and Ashley, rowing 1 mile per hour faster,... (answered by lwsshak3)

It takes Cathy 1.5 hours to paddle her canoe 6 miles upstream. Then she turns her canoe... (answered by oberobic)

It takes Cathy 1.5 hours to paddle her canoe 6 miles upstream. Then she turns her canoe... (answered by stanbon)

Jon is kayaking in the Russian River which flows downstream at a rate of 1 mile per hour. (answered by ikleyn)

Please help - Alicia can row 7 miles downstream in the same time it takes her to row 4... (answered by ptaylor)