The equation used to find the average speed is (a - 1)t₁ = 3, (a + 1)t₂ = 3 and t₁ + t₂ = 4.
Speed is the ratio of total distance travelled to total time taken. It is given by:
Speed = distance / time
Let t₁ represent the time upstream and t₂ the time downstream while a represent the average speed of the canoe in still water.
Hence:
t₁ + t₂ = 4 (1)
Also:
(a - 1)t₁ = 3 (2)
(a + 1)t₂ = 3 (3)
The equation used to find the average speed is (a - 1)t₁ = 3, (a + 1)t₂ = 3 and t₁ + t₂ = 4.
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