document.write( "Question 725213: Steve’s canoe goes 14km/hr in still water. He paddled for 2 hours with the current to reach a waterfront bar. Beverly paddled during the return trip against the current and it took 5 hours to get back to where they started. Find the speed of the current. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #444028 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let $\"+c+\"$ = the speed of the current in km/hr
\n" ); document.write( "going against the current the canoe's speed is
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+14+-+c+\"$ km/hr
\n" ); document.write( "going with the current the canoe's speed is
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+14+%2B+c+\"$ km/hr
\n" ); document.write( "Let $\"+d+\"$ = the one-way distance the canoe travels
\n" ); document.write( "-------------
\n" ); document.write( "With the current:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+d+=+%28+14+%2B+c+%29%2A2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Against the current:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+d+=+%28+14+-+c+%29%2A5+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "------------------
\n" ); document.write( "By substitution:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+%28+14+%2B+c+%29%2A2+=+%28+14+-+c+%29%2A5+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+28+%2B+2c+=+70+-+5c+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+7c+=+42+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+c+=+6+\"$ km/hr
\n" ); document.write( "check:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+d+=+%28+14+%2B+6+%29%2A2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+d+=+40+\"$ km
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+d+=+%28+14+-+6+%29%2A5+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+d+=+40+\"$ km
\n" ); document.write( "OK
\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "

\n" );