Answer:
a) speed of water relative to shore = 0.85 m/s
b) speed of each canoe relative to the water = 2.05 m/s
Explanation:
Let the speed of the canoeists be 'v'
and,
the speed of stream relative to shore be 'u'
therefore,
for the canoeist padding upstream
u - v = - 1.2 m/s .............(1)
and,
for the canoeist padding downstream
u + v = 2.9 m/s .............(2)
on adding equation (1) and (2), we get
u - v = - 1.2
+ u + v = 2.9
===========
2u + 0 = 1.7
or
u = 0.85 m/s
substituting u in equation 2 we get
0.85 + v = 2.9
or
v = 2.05 m/s
Hence,
a) speed of water relative to shore = 0.85 m/s
b) speed of each canoe relative to the water = 2.05 m/s