Question

On a canoe trip, Rita paddled upstream (against the current) at an average speed of 2 miles per hour relative to the riverbank. On the return trip downstream (with the current) . Her average speed was 3 miles per hour. Find Rita's paddling speed in still water and the speed of the river's current.

Answer 1

Answer: Rita's paddling speed in still water is 2.5 miles pet hour and the speed of the river's current is 0.5 miles per hour.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x represent Rita's paddling speed in still water.

Let y represent the speed of the river's current.

On a canoe trip, Rita paddled upstream (against the current) at an average speed of 2 miles per hour relative to the riverbank. This means that

x - y = 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - -1

On the return trip downstream (with the current) . Her average speed was 3 miles per hour. This means that

x + y = 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - -2

Adding equation 1 and equation 2, it becomes

2x = 5

x = 5/2 = 2.5 miles per hour.

Substituting x = 2.5 into equation 1, it becomes

2.5 - y = 2

y = 2.5 - 2 = 0.5 miles per hour