SOLUTION: On a canoe trip of 54 km each way, a group of friends travelled 3 km/hr faster downstream than upstream because of the river's current. The downstream trip took 3 hours less than

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Question 465685: On a canoe trip of 54 km each way, a group of friends travelled 3 km/hr faster downstream than upstream because of the river's current. The downstream trip took 3 hours less than the upstream trip. Find the upstream and downstream speeds of the canoe.
Thank you for your help!

Answer by jorel1380(3719)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
54/(x+3)+3=54/x
54x+3(x)(x+3)=54(x+3)
54x+3x2+9x=54x+162
3x2+9x-162=0
x2+3x-54=0
(x+9)(x-6)=0
x=-9 or 6
Throwing out the negative answer, we get the upstream speed of the canoe to be 6 kph, and the downstream speed to be 9 kph..

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