Question

On a particular day, the wind added 5 miles per hour to Jaime's rate when she was rowing with the wind and subtracted 5 miles per hour from her rate on her return trip. Jaime found that in the same amount of time she could row 46 miles with the wind, she could go only 26 miles against the wind. What is her normal rowing speed with no wind?

Answer 1

36 mph became the average of 46 and 26 is 36

Answer 2

18 miles per hour

Explanation:

Let x be the normal rowing speed with no wind,

∵ the wind added 5 miles per hour in the normal rate with wind and subtracted 5 miles per hour from normal rate against the wind,

⇒ Speed with the wind = ( x + 5 ) miles per hour,

While the speed against the wind = ( x - 5 ) miles per hour,

`\because Time =(distance)/(speed)`

If the distance is 46 miles with wind,

Then, time taken =
`(46)/(x+5)` hours

While, if the distance is 26 miles against the wind,

Then, the time taken =
`(26)/(x-5)` hours,

According to the question,

`(46)/(x+5)=(26)/(x-5)`

`46(x-5)=26(x+5)`

`46x-230=26x+130`

`20x = 360`

`\implies x = 18`

Hence, the normal rowing speed is 18 miles per hour