SOLUTION: During a canoe ride, a canoe travels upstream at a speed of 4 miles per hour and then travels at the same distance downstream at a speed of 8 miles per hour. The speed of the curre

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Question 452248: During a canoe ride, a canoe travels upstream at a speed of 4 miles per hour and then travels at the same distance downstream at a speed of 8 miles per hour. The speed of the current remains constant. What is the average speed of the canoe in still water?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +w+ = the speed of the current
Let +s+ = speed of canoe is still water
upstream:
+s+-+w+=+4+
downstream:
+s+%2B+w+=+8+
Add the equations
+2s+=+12+
+s+=+6+
and
+6+%2B+w+=+8+
+w+=+2+
the average speed of the canoe
in still water is 6 mi/hr