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| Question 122158This question is from textbook Algebra I
 :  On a canoe trip, Rita paddled upstream at an average speed of 2mi/h relative to the riverbank. On the return trip downstream, her average speed was 3mi/h. Find Rita's paddling speed in still water and the speed of the river's current.
 We need the linear equation as well as the answer. 
This question is from textbook Algebra I
 
 Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! On a canoe trip, Rita paddled upstream at an average speed of 2mi/h relative to the riverbank. On the return trip downstream, her average speed was 3mi/h. Find Rita's paddling speed in still water and the speed of the river's current. We need the linear equation as well as the answer.
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 Actually we can use two linear equations to solve this:
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 Let x = paddling speed in still water
 Let y = speed of the current
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 x + y = 3; downstream
 x - y = 2: upstream
 ------------adding eliminates y, find x
 2x = 5
 x = 5/2
 x = 2.5 mph is the paddling speed in still water
 :
 Then
 2.5 + y = 3
 y = 3 - 2.5
 y = .5 mph is the speed of the current
 
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