1. D = r . t r = Solve for rate Motion Word Problems - continued
Current and Tailwind D = r . t
Distance
rate
time
Solve for rate
r =

2. r = rate of vehicle in still air or water c = rate of the current
With the current(downstream or tailwind): r + c
With the tailwind: r + c
Against the current(upstream or headwind): r - c
Against the tailwind: r - c

3. 1.) The man rows at the rate of 3 mph in still water, and the current 
is moving at 1 mph
a.) How fast does the rower move upstream?
b.) How fast does he move downstream?
c.) How long would it take him to row 4 miles upstream and 4 miles 
back?
d.) What would happen if he tried to row upstream in a current 
flowing at 3½ mph?
2.) The plane’s air speed is 225 mph
a.) What is the plane’s ground speed on a windless day?
b.) What is the ground speed if the plane has a 25-m.p.h. tail wind?
c.) What is the ground speed when the plane encounters head winds 
of 15 m.p.h.?
d.)How long will the plane take to fly 500 miles
 i. with a 25-m.p.h. tail wind?
 ii.with a 25-m.p.h. head wind?

4. 1. ) : It took a rowboat 3 hours to row 12 km against the current
1.) : It took a rowboat 3 hours to row 12 km against the 
current. The return trip with the current took 2 hours. Find 
the speed of the rowboat in still water and the speed of the 
current.

5. 2.) An airplane flies from Denver to New York, a 
distance of 2400 miles. The trip to Denver took 6 
hours with the wind, and the return trip took 8 hours 
against the wind. What would the rate of the plane 
have been if there had been no wind? What was the 
rate of the wind?