Problema Solution
rowing with the current, a man in a canoe paddled 15 min in 3h. against the current, the man could paddle only 9 mi in the same amount of time. find the rate of the canoe in calm water and the rate of current.
Answer provided by our tutors
let
x = the rate of the canoe in calm water
c = the rate of the current
d1 = 15 mil
t = 3 h
d2 = 9 mi
15/(x + c) = 3
d2/(x - c) = 3
or
12/(x + c) = 3 => x + c = 4
9/(x - c) = 3 => x - c = 3
by solving the system of equations
x + c = 4
x - c = 3
we find
x = 3.5 miles/hour
c = 0.5 miles/hour
the rate of the canoe in calm water is 3.5 miles/hour.
the rate of the current is 0.5 miles/hour.