Question

Micah rows his boat on a river 4.48 miles downstream, with the current, in 0.32 hours. He rows back upstream the same distance, against the current, in 0.56 hours. Assuming his rowing speed and the speed of the current are constant, what is the speed of the current?

3 miles per hour
8 miles per hour
11 miles per hour
14 miles per hour

Answer 1

its 3 miles per hour which is A

Explanation:

i got it right on the test

Answer 2

Let the speed of the current be y and the speed of Micah's sailing speed be x. Then 4.48/(x + y) = 0.32
4.48/(x - y) = 0.56

0.32x + 0.32y = 4.48 . . . (1)
0.56x - 0.56y = 4.48 . . . (2)
(1) x 7 => 2.24x + 2.24y = 31.36 . . . (3)
(2) x 4 => 2.24x - 2.24y = 17.92 . . . (4)
(3) - (4) => 4.48y = 13.44
y = 3
From (1), 0.32x + 0.32(3) = 4.48
0.32x = 4.48 - 0.96 = 3.52
x = 3.52/0.32 = 11

Therefore, the speed of the current is 3 miles per hour. Answer is 3 miles per hour