Question

In colorado creek, darrell can row 24 km downstream in 6 hours or he can row 18 km upstream in the same amount of time. find the rate he rows in still water and the rate of the current

Answer 1

To answer this item, we let x and y be the rate of the boat in still water and current, respectively. The distance traveled by the object is equal to the product of the speed and the time. 

Upstream: 

             D = (x + y)(6)
             24 = 6x + 6y
             4 = x + y

Downstream:

               D = (x - y)(6)
              18 = 6x - 6y
               3 = x - y

The values of x and y are 3.5km/h and 0.5 km/h, respectively.

Answers: 

Rate in Still water = 3.5 km/h
Rate of the current = 0.5 km/h