Question

Ryan is rowing a small boat out to and back from an island 20 miles away at a rate of

Answer 1

Answer:

The speed with which Ryan was rowing was 4 mph

Step-by-step explanation:

With a small boat, Ryan wants to row towards an island and come back at a speed of x mph and the island is 20 miles away from him.  

Therefore, total 20 + 20 = 40 miles he rowed for 5 hours.

On the way to the island, there was a wind of 4 mph in the direction of his motion and on the way back also there was a wind of 4 mph in the direction of his motion.

So, in the total journey, he has a speed of (x + 4) mph.

Therefore, $\frac{40}{5} = x + 4$

⇒ x + 4 = 8

⇒ x = 4 mph.

Therefore, the speed with which Ryan was rowing was 4 mph. (Answer)