SOLUTION: a kayak can travel 12 miles upstream in 6 hours. It only takes 1.5 hours for the kayak to travel the same distance downstream. Find the speed of the kayak in still water and the sp

Question 296934: a kayak can travel 12 miles upstream in 6 hours. It only takes 1.5 hours for the kayak to travel the same distance downstream. Find the speed of the kayak in still water and the speed of the current.
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A kayak can travel 12 miles upstream in 6 hours. It only takes 1.5 hours for the kayak to travel the same distance downstream. Find the speed of the kayak in still water and the speed of the current.
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Up DATA:
time = 6 hrs; distance = 12 miles ; rate = d/t = 2 mph
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Down DATA:
time = 3/2 hrs; distance = 12 miles ; rate = d/t = 12/(3/2) = 8 mph
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Equations:
Up: b - c = 2 mph
Down: b + c = 8 mph
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Add and solve for "b":
2b = 10
b = 5 mph (speed of the boat in still water)
---
Since b+c=8, c = 3 mph (speed of the current)
====================
Cheers,
Stan H.
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