Question

Toni rows a boat 4.5 km/h upstream and then turns around and rows 5.5 km/h back downstream to her starting point. If her total rowing time is 48 min, for how long does she row upstream? Express your answer to the nearest minute. about 26 min about 24 min about 44 min about 30 min

Answer 1

about 26 min

Explanation:

Let x represent the time spent rowing distance d upstream. Then the time spent rowing downstream is ...

time = distance/speed . . . . speed × time = distance

downstream time = (4.5 km/h)(x)/(5.5 km/h)

So, the total time in both directions is ...

x + 4.5/5.5x = 48 min

x(1 + 9/11) = 48 min

x = (48 min)/(20/11) = 26.4 min

Rounded to the nearest minute, Toni spent about 26 minutes rowing upstream.