Asked by oml

During a kayaking trip, a kayaker travels 12 miles upstream (against the current) and 12 miles downstream (with the current). The speed of the current remained constant during the trip. It took the kayaker 3 hours to travel upstream and 2 hours to travel downstream.
A) set up a system of equations to represent this situation

B) solve the system of equations to find the average speed of a kayak in still water and speed of the current. Make sure you label the speed of a kayak in still water and the speed of the current.
Answered by mathhelper
Speed of kayaker in still water : x mph
speed of current : y mph
time to upstream = 12/(x-y)
time to go downstream = 12/(x+y)

12/(x-y) = 3
3x - 3y = 12
x - y = 4 , #1

12/(x+y) = 2
2x + 2y = 12
x + y = 6, #2

add #1 and #2,
2x = 10

pick it up from here
There are no AI answers yet. The ability to request AI answers is coming soon!