A kayaker paddled 2 hours with a 6 mph current in a river. The return trip against the same current took 3 hou? -

A kayaker paddled 2 hours with a 6 mph current in a river. The return trip against the same current took 3 hours. Find the speed the kayaker would make in still water.

Make X the paddling speed in calm water. The paddling speed with the current would be X+6 and the paddling speed against the current X-6. Since it took 2 hours at X+6 to go the same distance as it did at 3 hours at X-6 then we make 2(X+6) = 3(X-6)2(X+6) = 3(X-6)2X+12 = 3X-1812+18 = 3X-2X30 = XThe calm water paddling speed is 30 mph.