Question

a kayaker travels x miles per hour downstream for 3 hours. on the 4-hour return trip, the kayaker travels 1 mile per hour slower. how far did the kayaker travel in total?

Answer 1

The answer is 24 miles.

Explanation:

We know that distance = rate * time

Length of the journey =
`3x` from downstream

Length of the journey =
`4(x-1)` from return trip

As the distance is same, we will equate both the journey lengths.

`3x= 4(x-1)`

Solving for x;

`3x=4x-4`

`-x=-4`

x = 4

Thus the forward journey,
`3x=3(4)` = 12 miles.

Return journey will be of same length that is 12 miles.

The total distance traveled is
`12+12=24` miles.

Therefore, the answer is 24 miles.

Answer 2

3x is the miles from downstream
4 (x - 1) is the return trip

Solution:
3x = 4 (x - 1)
3x =4x - 4
-x = -4
x = 4

The outward journey 3x = 12 miles
Return journey is same length
Therefore the distance travel is 24 miles