determine the team's rowing speed in still water and the speed of the current.

Question

a rowing team rowed an average of 14.4 miles per hour with the current and 9.2 miles per hour against the current. determine the team's rowing speed in still water and the speed of the current

Answer 1

Let

s = speed in still water

c = speed of current

 

With the current, of course, you'll just add them:

 

s + c = 14.4

 

Against the current, you'll subtract:

 

s - c = 9.2

 

Now, you have two equations, and you can either use elimination or substitution: (in this case I prefer elimination first)

 

s + c = 14.4

s - c = 9.2

2s = 23.6

 

s = 11.8 mph

 

11.8 + c = 14.4

 

c = 2.6 mph