document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=582245>Question 582245</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> On a river, a kayaker travels 2 miles upstream and 2 miles downstream in a total of 5 hours. In still water, the kayaker can travel at an average speed of 2 mph. Based on this information, what is the average speed of the current of this river? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #372026 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=mananth><B>mananth(16946)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=mananth><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=mananth><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=372026\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> let speed of current be x mph\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "against current speed = 2-x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "with current speed = 2+x\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "distance = 2miles\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "time upstream + time down stream = 5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "t=d/r\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2/(2-x)+ 2/(2+x)=5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "LCD = (2+x)(2-x)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "multiply by the equation by the LCD\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2(2+x)+2(2-x)= 5(4-x^2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4+2x+4-2x= 20-5x^2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "8=20-5x^2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5x^2= 20-8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5x^2=12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2= 12/5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x= sqrt(12/5)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x= 1.55 mph speed of current </SPAN>\n" );
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