I'm stomped, can anyone help me with this problem? Emily rows six miles downstream in 1 hour and her friend Ashley, rowing 1 mile per hour faster, completes the return trip in 2 hours. Find the speed of the current (c) and each girl's rowing speed. If Emily and Ashley were rowing separately, who would complete their trip first and by how long? Round to the nearest hundredth, if necessary.

Question

I'm stomped, can anyone help me with this problem?  Emily rows six miles downstream in 1 hour and her friend Ashley, rowing 1 mile per hour faster, completes the return trip in 2 hours. Find the speed of the current (c) and each girl's rowing speed. If Emily and Ashley were rowing separately, who would complete their trip first and by how long? Round to the nearest hundredth, if necessary.

gorv · Answer

let speed of current=x 
rowing speed of emily= y
rowing speed of Ashley =y+1
time taken for downstream by emly = 1hour=distane * speed=6 *(x+y)
as current will inc speed during downstream
6x+6y=1.....................equ 1
ashley
2= 6*(y+1-x).....in return current will oppose the speed and dec it
1=3y+3-3x
3x-3y=3-1=2
3x-3y=2......................equ 2
multiplying equ 2 by 2 and subtract it from  equ1
  6x+6y=1
 -6x+6y=-4

12y=1-4=3
y=3/12
y=1/4=0.25miles / hour

anonymous · Answer

Ok, So Ashley would complete the trip first right? Thx

anonymous · Answer

A Mathematica calculated solution is attached.