Problema Solution
a boats crew rowed 13.5 miles downstream with current in 1.5 hours. the return trip upstream the same distance against current took 4.5 hours. find the crews rowing rate in still water and the rate of current
Answer provided by our tutors
let
v = the crews rowing rate in still water
c = the rate of current
d = 13.5 miles the distance in one direction
t1 = 1.5 hour downstream time
t2 = 4.5 hour upstream time
downstream rate: v + c
upstream rate: v - c
since rate = distance/time
v + c = d/t1
v + c = 13.5/1.5
v + c = 9
v - c = d/t2
v - c = 13.5/4.5
v - c = 3
we have the system of equations
v + c = 9
v - c = 3
by solving it
click here to see the step by step solution of the system
we find
v = 6 mph
c = 3 mph
the crews rowing rate in still water is 6 miles per hour and the rate of current is 3 miles per hour.