Problema Solution

A man rowed 3 miles upstream in 90 minutes. If the river flowed with a current of 2 miles per hour, how long did the man's return trip take?

Answer provided by our tutors

Speed upstream = 3miles / 1.5 hours = 2mph

Let the river's speed be 'c', then c = 2mph

Let his rowing speed be 'r', then:


r = 2 + c = 2 + 2 = 4


He rowed at 4 mph upstream, so on the return trip if he still rows at 4mph he will move at 4+2=6 mph because he is rowing with the current.

3 / 6 = 0.5

At 6mph, the 3 mile return trip will take only .5 hours.