Read the word problem below. Chan rows at a rate of eight miles per hour in still water. On Wednesday, it takes him three hours to row upstream from his house to the park. He rows back home, and it takes him two hours. What is the speed of the current?

1 3/5 miles/hr

Step-by-step explanation:

Let C be the speed of the current

Let D be the distance between Chan's house and the park

We know that Distance, D, is = Speed x Time

Chan's speed going upstream is (8 - C)mph.

That gives us:

D = (8-C)(3 hr)

Chan's speed going downstream is (8+C)mph

So we have:

D = (8+C)(2 hr)

We know that the d is the same for these two equations, so:

(8-C)(3 hr)  = (8+C)(2 hr)

24 - 3C = 16 + 2C

5C = 8

C = (8/5) or 1 3/5 mph