Canoe trip back to camp against a 2 mph current
Question
Some friends leave their campsite by canoe, paddling upstream for hours. They then turn and paddle downstream for hours, finishing miles downstream of the campsite. The river runs downstream at a steady mph and their paddling speed in still water is constant. The following morning they paddle upstream back to the campsite, reaching it at 7:00 PM. At what time did they set off? Give the time as a 24-hour number without a colon (e.g. 4:30 AM is , 4:30 PM is ).
Short answer
1340. With still-water speed , net displacement is , so mph. Going upstream at mph, miles takes hours, i.e. 5 h 20 min, so they left at 1:40 PM.
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