SOLUTION: Paddling with current a canoeist can travel 48km in 3h. against the current the canoeist takes 4 h ti travel the same distance. find the rate of the canoeist in still water and th

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Question 703538: Paddling with current a canoeist can travel 48km in 3h. against the current the canoeist takes 4 h ti travel the same distance. find the rate of the canoeist in still water and the rate of the current. Please help thank you
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +s+ = the rate of the canoe in still water in km/hr
Let +c+ = the rate of the current in km/hr
+s+%2B+c+ = the canoe's rate going with the current in km/hr
+s+-+c+ = the canoe's rate going against the current in km/hr
----------------
Going with the current:
(1) +48+=+%28+s+%2B+c+%29%2A3+
Going against the current:
(2) +48+=+%28+s+-+c+%29%2A4+
----------------------
(1) +3s+%2B+3c+=+48+
(1) +s+%2B+c+=+16+
and
(2) +4s+-+4c+=+48+
(2) +s+-+c+=+12+
----------------
Add (1) and (2)
(1) +s+%2B+c+=+16+
(2) +s+-+c+=+12+
+2s+=+28+
+s+=+14+
and
(2) +s+-+c+=+12+
(2) +14+-+c+=+12+
(2) +c+=+2+
The rate of the canoeist in still water is 14 km/hr
The rate of the current is 2 km/hr
check answer:
(1) +48+=+%28+s+%2B+c+%29%2A3+
(1) +48+=+%28+14+%2B+2+%29%2A3+
(1) +48+=+16%2A3+
(1) +48+=+48+
and
(2) +48+=+%28+s+-+c+%29%2A4+
(2) +48+=+%28+14+-+2+%29%2A4+
(2) +48+=+12%2A4+
(2) +48+=+48+
OK