How to evaluate algebraic expressions - PSAT Math

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Question

A rowing team paddles upstream at a rate of 10 miles every 2 hours and downstream at a rate of 27 miles every 3 hours. Assuming they are paddling at the same rate up and downstream, what is the speed of the water?

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Answer

Upstream: p – w = (10/2) or p – w = 5 miles/hour

Downstream: p + w = (27/3) or p + w = 9 miles/hour

Then we add the two equations together to cancel out the w's. After adding we see

2p = 14

p = 7 miles/hour where p is the rate of the paddling. We plug p into the equation to find

w = 2 miles/hour where w is the rate of the stream's water.

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