Answer
Rate of rowing in still water: $6$ $mph$
Rate of current: $2$ $mph$
Work Step by Step
Using the information in the table, we can write the following system of equations: $$2(x + y) = 16$$ $$2(x - y) = 8$$ which is to say: $$x + y = 8$$ $$x - y = 4$$ By using the substitution method, we can find an equivalent value for $x$: $$x - y = 4$$ $$x = 4 + y$$ and "plug" it into the other equation to find its value: $$x + y = 8$$ $$(4 + y) + y = 8$$ $$2y = 4$$ $$y = 2$$ Finally, we substitute this value into our previous equation: $$x = 4 + y$$ $$x = 4 + 2 = 6$$ We conclude that the rate of rowing in still water $x$ is $6$ $mph$ and the rate of the current $y$ is $2$ $mph$.
