Question

A canoe traveled Downstream with the current and went a distance of 15 miles in three hours. On the return trip, the canoe traveled Upstream against the current. It took 5 hours to make the return trip. Find the rate of the current

Answer 1

Answer:

1 mile/hr

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the Speed of the boat still in water = a

Speed of the current = b

We know from this formula that speed = distance/time

Hence,

A canoe traveled Downstream with the current and went a distance of 15 miles in three hours.

Downstream = a + b = 15/3

a + b = 5 .........Equation 1

On the return trip, the canoe traveled Upstream against the current. It took 5 hours to make the return trip.

Upstream = a - b = 15/5

a - b = 3 ..............Equation 2

Combining both Equation together

a + b = 5 .........Equation 1

a - b = 3 ..............Equation 2

Subtracting Equation 2 from Equation 1

2b = 2

b = 2/2

b = 1miles/hr

Since b = speed of the current which can also be called rate of the current, the rate of the current = 1 miles/hr