Can someone help me on this
In a canoe race, a team paddles downstream 480 m in 60s. The same team makes the trip upstream in 80 s. Find the team's rate in still water and the rate of the current.

Question

Can someone help me on this 
In a canoe race, a team paddles downstream 480 m in 60s. The same team makes the trip upstream in 80 s. Find the team's rate in still water and the rate of the current.

anonymous · Answer

Can you help?

anonymous · Answer

Still hard to understand...

hero · Answer

Luis, try putting it all on one pic. That would probably help

anonymous · Answer

Then what is the current speed of the water?

anonymous · Answer

That kind of makes sense... I think...

anonymous · Answer

Uh... ok...

hero · Answer

480 = (r + w)60
480 = (r - w)80

480 = 60r + 60w
480 = 80r - 80w

w = (480 - 60r)/60
w = (480 - 80r)/-80

w = w
-80(480 - 60r) = 60(480 - 80r)
-8(48 - 6r) = 6(48 - 8r)
-384 + 48r = 288 - 48r
384 + 288 = 96r
672 = 96r
672/96 = r
r = 7

hero · Answer

still have to find w

anonymous · Answer

Thats what I got too!

anonymous · Answer

Ok?

hero · Answer

The rate is 7 meters per second

anonymous · Answer

Then wht is the currents speed?!?

hero · Answer

I'll find w

hero · Answer

w = 1 meter per second

anonymous · Answer

How did you get 1?

hero · Answer

I solved for w

anonymous · Answer

Well, can you show the steps of how you got it ?

hero · Answer

I plugged it back into one of the original equations I created earlier

hero · Answer

Yup, I know Luis, but you weren't supposed to

anonymous · Answer

Well thats what I did too, but I kept getting 473...

hero · Answer

473 is definitely not it

anonymous · Answer

Yah, thats what got me confused...

hero · Answer

d = rt

480 = (r + w)60
480 = (r - w)80

480 = 60r + 60w
480 = 80r - 80w

w = (480 - 60r)/60
w = (480 - 80r)/-80

w = w
-80(480 - 60r) = 60(480 - 80r)
-8(48 - 6r) = 6(48 - 8r)
-384 + 48r = 288 - 48r
384 + 288 = 96r
672 = 96r
672/96 = r
 r = 7
w = 1

hero · Answer

480 = (r + w)60
480 = (7+1)60
480 = (8)60
480 = 480

anonymous · Answer

Ok, now I just got confused again.

hero · Answer

or you can do this: 

480 = (r + w)60
480 = (7 + w)60
480 = 420 + 60w
480 - 420 = 60w
60 = 60w
60/60 = w
1 = w

hero · Answer

If you're still confused, I can't help you.

anonymous · Answer

Ok now I know my mistake, I forgot to put in the 60...hehe

anonymous · Answer

Thanks!

hero · Answer

Good luck

anonymous · Answer

I will need it for sure!