Problema Solution

Traveling with the current a certain boat went 11 km/h. Against the same current it only went 3 km/h. What is the speed of the current? How fast would the boat go if there were no current?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


v = the rate of the boat in still water

c = the rate of the current

d = the distance traveled in one direction


the canoe's speed downstream: v + c = 11 km/h

the canoe's speed upstream: v - c = 3 km/h


by solving the system


v + c = 11

v - c = 3


we find


v = 7 km/h


c = 4 km/h


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the speed of the current is 4 km/h.


the speed of the boat without current is 11 km/h.