Problema Solution
A crew rowing with the current traveled 15 miles in 2 hours. Against the current, the crew rowed 9 miles in 2 hours. Find the rate of the current.
Answer provided by our tutors
let 'x' represent the rate of the current and let 'v' represent the rate rowed in still water, both in units of mph
distance = rate * time
rate with the current is expressed as (v+x), rate against the current is expressed as (v-x)
we derive this system of equations:
15 = (v+x)2
9 = (v-x)2
solving, we have:
v = 6
x = 1.5
the rate of the current is 1.5 mph