SOLUTION: On a canoe trip, Rita paddled upstream (against the current) at an average speed of 2mi/h relative to the riverbank. On the return trip downstream (with the current), her average s

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Question 207967: On a canoe trip, Rita paddled upstream (against the current) at an average speed of 2mi/h relative to the riverbank. On the return trip downstream (with the current), her average speed was 3 mi/h. Find Rita's paddling seed in still water and the speed of the river's current.
Found 2 solutions by stanbon, scott8148:
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
On a canoe trip, Rita paddled upstream (against the current) at an average speed of 2mi/h relative to the riverbank. On the return trip downstream (with the current), her average speed was 3 mi/h. Find Rita's paddling sp eed in still water and the speed of the river's current.
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Upstream DATA:
rate = 2 mph
--------------------
Downstream DATA:
rate = 3 mph
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Let P be paddling speed and c be current speed:
------------
Equations:
p + c = 3 mph
p - c = 2 mph
---------------------
Add to get:
2p = 5 mph
p = 2.5 mph (paddling speed)
----
Substitute to solve for "c":
2.5 + c = 3
c = 0.5 mph (speed of the current)
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Cheers,
Stan H.

Answer by scott8148(6628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
r - c = 2

r + c = 3

adding equations ___ 2r = 5

dividing by 2 ___ r = 2.5

substituting ___ 2.5 + c = 3 ___ c = .5