Question 1123133: 3. Yves Trough, a French Canadian fur trader, took 2 hours to paddle his canoe 24 km downstream to the Hudson’s Bay trading post. The return trip against the current took 3 hours. Find the speed of the canoe in still water and the speed of the current.
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! 3. Yves Trough, a French Canadian fur trader, took 2 hours to paddle his canoe 24 km downstream to the Hudson’s Bay trading post.
The return trip against the current took 3 hours.
Find the speed of the canoe in still water and the speed of the current.
:
let s = his speed in still water
let c = the rate of the current
then
(s+c) = his effective speed downstream
and
(s-c) = his effective speed upstream
:
The distance traveled down and back is the same
write a distance equation for each way. dist = time * effective speed
2(s+c) = 24
3(s-c) = 24
We can simplify this, divide the 1st equation by 2, the 2nd equation by 3
s + c = 12
s - c = 8
-------------Addition eliminates c, find s
2s = 20
s = 20/2
s = 10 km/h the speed in still water
then
10 - c = 8
c = 2 km/hr, the rate of the current
:
:
Check this in the first original equation
2(10 + 2) = 24
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