Question

On a particular day, the wind added 2 miles per hour to Jaime's rate when she was rowing with the wind and subtracted 2 miles per hour from her rate on her return trip. Jaime found that in the same amount of time she could row 44 miles with the wind, she could go only 36 miles against the wind.What is her normal rowing speed with no wind?

Answer 1

40 miles with no wind, or 20 mph with no wind.

44 miles with wind, or 22 mph with wind.

36 miles against wind, or 18 mph against wind.

Answer 2

d=vt

44=(r+2)t  and 36=(r-2)t

44/(r+2)=t and 36/(r-2)=t

We are told that t=t so we can say

36/(r-2)=44/(r+2)  cross multiply

36(r+2)=44(r-2)

36r+72=44r-88

-8r+72=-88

-8r=-160

r=20

So her normal rowing speed is 20mph.