Question 403195
let x = speed of river current
let y = your paddling speed


when going upstream (fighting against the river current) your ACTUAL speed is
(your paddling speed) MINUS (speed of river current)


when going downstream (fighting with the river current) your ACTUAL speed is
(your paddling speed) PLUS (speed of river current)


so,


upstream:

y - x = 2



downstream:

y + x = 3


from upstream equation, we can solve for y and get y = (2 + x)

we can substitute this into the downstream equation and we have

(2 + x) + x = 3


solving for x:

2 + 2x = 3
2x = 1
x = 0.5, and since y = (2 + x), y = 2.5



speed of river is 0.5 miles per hour
your paddling speed (in still water) is 2.5 miles per hour