Question

With the current, a person can canoe 24 miles in 4 hours. Against the same current, the same person can canoe 18 miles in 6 hours. Find the person’s average rate in still water and the average rate of the current.

Answer 1

speed of canoe in still water --- x mph
speed of current --- y mph

4(x+y) = 24 ---> x + y = 6
6(x-y) = 18 ---> x - y = 3
add them:
2x = 9
x = 4.5
then y = 1.5

state conclusion