Problema Solution

Abby rows 10 km up stream and 10 km back in a total of 3hr.The speed of the river is 5km/h. Find Abby's speed in still water.

Answer provided by our tutors

let


v = Abby's speed in still water, v>0


d = 10 km the distance Abby is crossing in each direction


t = 3 hr the total time


c = 5 km/h the speed of the river


going downstream Abby's speed is: v + c = v + 5


going upstream Abby's speed is: v - c = v - 5


since speed = distance/time follows time = distance/speed


d/(v + c) + d/(v - c) = t


10/(v + 5) + 10/(v - 5) = 3


by solving the above system of equations we find:


v = 9.34 km/h


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Abby's speed in still water is 9.34 km/h approximately.