Question 394504: Please help me solve this word problem:
On a canoe trip, Rita paddled upstream (against the current) at an average speed of 2mph relative to the riverbank. On the return trip downstream (with the current), her average speed was 3mph. Find Rita's paddling speed in still water and the speed of the river's current.
I tried using the formula rate*time=distance, but they don't give you the distance. I would have set up the problem like this if i had the distance:
(r*t)2=d
(r*t)3=d
Answer by stanbon(75887)   (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 2mph relative to the riverbank.
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Upstream DATA:
rate = 2 mph
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On the return trip downstream (with the current), her average speed was 3mph.
Down stream DATA:
rate = 3 mph
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Find Rita's paddling speed in still water and the speed of the river's current.
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Equations:
Let boat rate in still water be "b"
Let current rate be "c".
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b + c = 3 mph
b - c = 2 mph
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Add and solve for b:
2b = 5
b = 2.5 mph
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Solve for "c":
b+c = 3
2.5 + c = 3
c = 0.5 mph
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cheers,
Stan H.
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