SOLUTION: A crew can row 60 km downstream in 3 hours. The return trip takes 5 hours. Find the rowing rate of the crew in still water and the rate of the current.

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Geometry -> SOLUTION: A crew can row 60 km downstream in 3 hours. The return trip takes 5 hours. Find the rowing rate of the crew in still water and the rate of the current.      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


   



Question 450763: A crew can row 60 km downstream in 3 hours. The return trip takes 5 hours. Find the rowing rate of the crew in still water and the rate of the current.
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A crew can row 60 km downstream in 3 hours.
The return trip takes 5 hours.
Find the rowing rate of the crew in still water and the rate of the current.
:
Let s = rowing rate in still water
Let c = rate of the current
:
Write a distance equation for each half of the trip
:
3(s+c) = 60
5(s-c) = 60
:
We can simplify these equations, divide the 1st eq by 3, the 2nd eq by 5; you have:
s + c = 20
s - c = 12
--------------adding eliminates c, find s
2s = 32
s = 32%2F2
s = 16 km/hr in still water
then
16 + c = 20
c = 20 - 16
c = 4 km/hr is the current
:
Check solution in the original upstream equation
5(16 - 4) = 60