Question

You take a canoe trip up the Salt River for nine miles, then return. The river's current speed is 2 miles per hour, and the total time for the trip is 6 hours. Assuming a constant paddling rate, write the equation and determine the paddling speed. Round to the nearest tenth.

Answer 1

To determine the paddling speed, use the formula: total distance = paddling speed × time. The paddling speed is approximately 1.4 miles per hour.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the paddling speed, we can use the formula: total distance = paddling speed × time. In this case, the total distance is 9 miles (since the student went up the river for 9 miles and then returned), and the total time is 6 hours. Let's assume the paddling speed is 'p.'

When the student is paddling upstream against the current, their effective speed is reduced by the current speed. So, the equation becomes: (p - 2) × t = 9, where t is the time spent paddling upstream.

When the student is paddling downstream with the current, their effective speed is increased by the current speed. So, the equation becomes: (p + 2) × (6 - t) = 9, where 6 - t is the time spent paddling downstream.

Solving both equations simultaneously will give us the paddling speed, which is approximately 1.4 miles per hour.