Question

When a crew rows with the current, it travels 33 miles in 3 hours. Against the current, the crew rows 15 miles in 3 hours. Let x represent the crew's rowing rate in still water and y represent the rate of the current. Find the rate of rowing in still water and the rate of the current.

a) Rowing rate = 12 mph, Current rate = 3 mph
b) Rowing rate = 9 mph, Current rate = 3 mph
c) Rowing rate = 9 mph, Current rate = 12 mph
d) Rowing rate = 12 mph, Current rate = 9 mph

Answer 1

The rate of rowing in still water is 12 mph and the rate of the current is 3 mph.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the rate of rowing in still water and the rate of the current, we can set up a system of equations using the given information. Let's denote the crew's rowing rate in still water as x and the rate of the current as y.

According to the first statement, when the crew rows with the current, they travel 33 miles in 3 hours. This can be represented as the equation: 3(x+y) = 33.

The second statement says that against the current, the crew rows 15 miles in 3 hours. This can be represented as the equation: 3(x-y) = 15.

Solving this system of equations, we get x = 12 mph and y = 3 mph.

Therefore, the correct answer is a) Rowing rate = 12 mph, Current rate = 3 mph.