document.write( "Question 899679: On a canoe trip, Rita paddled upstream (against the current) at an average speed of 2 mph relative to the riverbank. On the return trip downstream (with the current), her average speed was 3 mph. Find Rita's paddling speed in still water and the speed of the river's current. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #545545 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let $\"+s+\"$ = Rita's paddling speed
\n" ); document.write( "Let $\"+c+\"$ = speed of river's current
\n" ); document.write( "Going upstream:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+s+-+c+=+2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Going downstream:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+s+%2B+c+=+3+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "----------------
\n" ); document.write( "add the equations:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+2s+=+5+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+s+=+2.5+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+s+%2B+c+=+3+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+2.5+%2B+c+=+3+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+c+=+.5+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "-------------
\n" ); document.write( "Rita's paddling speed was 2.5 mi/hr
\n" ); document.write( "The speed of river's current was .5 mi/hr
\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "

\n" );