Question

A canoeist traveling with the current traveled the 24 miles between two riverside campsites in 2 hours. The return trip against the current took 3 hours. Find the speed of the canoeist in still water and the speed of the current, both in miles per hour.

Answer 1

Speed of canoiest is 10 miles/hour.

Speed of current is 2 miles/hour.

Explanation:

Let the speed of canoiest is v and the speed of current is u.

distance = speed x time

24 = (v + u ) x 2

v + u = 12 ..... (1)

Now

24 = (v- u) x 3

v - u = 8 .... (2)

By solving (1) and (2)

2 v = 20

v = 10 miles/hour

u = 2 miles/hour