Question 983517
Hello, I am having trouble understanding and solving this problem:

A kayaker can paddle 12 miles in 2 hours moving with the river current. Paddling at the same pace, the trip back against the current takes 4 hours. Assume that the river current is constant. Find what the kayaker's speed would be in still water.


-Thank you.
<pre>Let speed of kayak, in still water be S, and speed of current, C
Total speed moving with the current: {{{12/2}}}, or 6 mph
Total speed moving against the current: {{{12/4}}}, or 3 mph
We then get: S + C = 6 ------- eq (i)
             S - C = 3 ------- eq (ii)
                2S = 9 ------- Adding eqs (ii) & (i)
S, or speed in still water = {{{9/2}}}, or {{{highlight_green(4.5)}}} mph