Let the speed of the current be x and the speed of the canoe in still water be y, then
[tex]y+x= \frac{40}{5} =8 \\ y-x= \frac{16}{8} =2[/tex]
Adding the two equations, we have:
[tex]2y=10 \\ \\ \Rightarrow y=5[/tex]
From any of the equations, we have that x = 2
Therefore, the speed of the current is 2 miles per hour while the speed of the canoe in still water is 5 miles per hour.
