Question 1054176
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Rowing with the current, a canoeist paddled 18 mi in 3 h. Against the current, the canoeist could paddle only 6 mi in the same amount of time. 

Find the rate of the canoeist in calm water and the rate of the current.
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<pre>
Your equations are

(1)  {{{18/3}}} = u + v,   ("Rowing with the current, a canoeist paddled 18 mi in 3 h")

(2)  {{{6/3}}} = u - v.    ("Against the current, the canoeist could paddle only 6 mi in the same amount of time.")

Here u is the rate of the canoeist in calm water and v is the rate of the current.

Simplify equations (1) and (2). You will get

u + v = 6,   (3)
u - v = 3.   (4)

Add equations (3) and (4). You will get

2u = 6 + 3 = 9  --->  u = {{{9/2}}} = 4.5.

Thus you just found the rate of the canoeist in calm water. It is 4.5 mph.

Now find v from (3):

v = 6 - u = 6 - 4.5 = 1.5 mph.

<U>Answer</U>.  The rate of the canoeist in calm water is 4.5 mph.
         The rate of the current is 1.5 mph.
</pre>

It is a typical Upstream and Downstream Travel and Distance problem.

You can find similar fully solved similar problems on upstream and downstream trips with detailed solutions in the lessons 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/word/travel/Wind-and-Current-problems.lesson>Wind and Current problems</A> 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/word/travel/More-problems-on-upstream-and-downstream-round-trips.lesson>More problems on upstream and downstream round trips</A> 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/word/travel/Selected-problems-from-the-archive-on-a-boat-floating-Upstream-and-Downstream.lesson>Selected problems from the archive on the boat floating Upstream and Downstream</A> 


Read them attentively and learn how to solve this type of problems once and for all.


Also, you have this free of charge online textbook in ALGEBRA-I in this site

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/quadratic/lessons/ALGEBRA-I-YOUR-ONLINE-TEXTBOOK.lesson>ALGEBRA-I - YOUR ONLINE TEXTBOOK</A>.


The referred lessons are the part of this textbook under the section "<U>Word problems</U>", the topic "<U>Travel and Distance problems</U>".