Question

A rowing team rowing with the current traveled 36 km in 3 h. Rowing against the current, the team rowed 12 km in the same amount of time. Find the rate of the rowing team in calm water and the rate of the current.

Answer 1

The team is 8

The current is 4

Answer 2

• team: 8 kph
• current: 4 kph

Explanation:

The downstream speed is ...

speed = distance / time

speed = 36 km/(3 h) = 12 km/h

The upstream speed is ...

12 km/(3 h) = 4 km/h

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If b and c represent the speeds of the boat and current, respectively, then we have ...

b + c = 12

b - c = 4

Adding these gives ...

2b = 16

b = 8

c = b -4 = 4

The rate of the rowing team in calm water is 8 km/h; the rate of the current is 4 km/h.