document.write( "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. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #213876 by stanbon(75887)\"\" \"About 
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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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\n" ); document.write( "Up DATA:
\n" ); document.write( "time = 6 hrs; distance = 12 miles ; rate = d/t = 2 mph
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\n" ); document.write( "Down DATA:
\n" ); document.write( "time = 3/2 hrs; distance = 12 miles ; rate = d/t = 12/(3/2) = 8 mph
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\n" ); document.write( "Equations:
\n" ); document.write( "Up: b - c = 2 mph
\n" ); document.write( "Down: b + c = 8 mph
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\n" ); document.write( "Add and solve for \"b\":
\n" ); document.write( "2b = 10
\n" ); document.write( "b = 5 mph (speed of the boat in still water)
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\n" ); document.write( "Since b+c=8, c = 3 mph (speed of the current)
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\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H.
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