Question 194698
During a multi-day camping trip, Jacque rowed 17 hours downstream.
 It took 26.5 hours rowing upstream to travel the same distance. 
If the speed of the current is 6.8 kilometers per hour less than his
 rowing speed in still water, find his rowing speed and the speed of the current.
:
Let s = his rowing speed
then
(s-6.8) = speed of the current
:
write a distance equation; dist = time * speed
:
downstream dist = upstream dist
17(s + (s-6.8)) = 26.5(s - (s-6.8))
:
17(s + s - 6.8) = 26.5(s - s + 6.8)
:
17(2s - 6.8) = 26.5(6.8)
:
34s - 115.6 = 180.2
:
34s = 180.2 + 115.6
:
34s = 295.8
s = {{{295.8/34}}}
s = 8.7 km/hr; rowing speed
then
8.7 - 6.8 = 1.9 km/hr; current
:
:
Check solution by finding the dist:
17(8.7+1.9) = 180.2
26.5(8.7-1.9) = 180.2; confirms our solutions