Alicia can row 6 miles downstream in the same time it takes her to row 4 miles upstream. She rows downstream 3 mi/hour faster than she rows upstream. Find Alicia's rowing rate each way. Round your answers to the nearest tenth, if necessary.

Question

(1 point)
• 4 mi/h downstream; 2.7 mi/h upstream
• 20 mi/h downstream; 13.3 mi/h upstream
• 2.7 mi/h downstream; 4 mi/h upstream
• 9 mi/h downstream; 6 mi/h upstream

Answer 1

Let x be Alicia's rowing rate upstream in mi/h. Then her rowing rate downstream would be (x + 3) mi/h.

Time taken to row 6 miles downstream = 6 / (x + 3)
Time taken to row 4 miles upstream = 4 / x

Given that these times are equal:
6 / (x + 3) = 4 / x
6x = 4(x + 3)
6x = 4x + 12
2x = 12
x = 6

Therefore, Alicia's rowing rate upstream is 6 mi/h and her rowing rate downstream is 6 + 3 = 9 mi/h.

So the correct answer is:
• 9 mi/h downstream; 6 mi/h upstream