Question 1177332

A kayak can travel 24 miles downstream in 2 ​hours, while it would take 12 hours to make the same trip upstream. 


 Let k represent the speed of the kayak in still​ water,
 and let c represent the speed of the current.

speed downstream = k+c
distance = 24 miles
time =2 hours

24/(k+c) =2
2k+2c =24
divide by 2
k+c =12 -----------(1)

Upstream

24/(k-c) = 12

12k-12c=24
/12
k-c=2-----------2

solve equation 1 &2 

add them
2k= 14
k =7 speed of kayak = 7mph
speed of current = 5 by plugging in equation 2