Question

Dana can travel 9 miles in her rowboat in 6 hours against the current. With the current, it takes 4 hours to row the same distance. Which system of linear equations can be used to find the speed of the rowboat (x) in still water and the rate of the current (y)?

Answer 1

Answer: The equations are

6x - 6y = 9

4x + 4y = 9

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x represent the speed of the row boat in still water.

Let y represent the speed of the current.

Dana can travel 9 miles in her rowboat in 6 hours against the current. This means that the total speed at which she travelled is

(x - y) miles per hour.

Distance = speed × time

Distance travelled against the current is expressed as

9 = 6(x - y)

6x - 6y = 9

With the current, it takes 4 hours to row the same distance. This means that the total speed at which she travelled is

(x + y) miles per hour.

Distance travelled with the current is expressed as

9 = 4(x + y)

4x + 4y = 9