A motorboat goes downstream in a river and covers the distance between two coastal towns in 5 hours it covers the distance upstream in 6 hours if th speed of the of the stream is 2 km per hour find the speed of the boat in still water
A motorboat goes downstream in a river and covers the distance between two coastal towns in 5 hours it covers the distance upstream in 6 hours if th speed of the of the stream is 2 km per hour find the speed of the boat in still water
Sign Up to our social questions and Answers Engine to ask questions, answer people’s questions, and connect with other people.
Login to our social questions & Answers Engine to ask questions answer people’s questions & connect with other people.
Answer:
Since we have to find the speed of the boat in
still water, let us suppose that it is
x km/h.
This means that while going downstream the
speed of the boat will be (x + 2) kmph
because the water current is pushing the boat
at 2 kmph in addition to its own speed
‘x’kmph.
Now the speed of the boat down stream = (x + 2) kmph
⇒ distance covered in 1 hour = x + 2 km.
∴ distance covered in 5 hours = 5 (x + 2) km
Hence the distance between A and B is 5 (x + 2) km
But while going upstream the boat has to work against the water current.
Therefore its speed upstream will be (x – 2) kmph.
⇒ Distance covered in 1 hour = (x – 2) km
Distance covered in 6 hours = 6 (x – 2) km
∴ distance between A and B is 6 (x – 2) km
But the distance between A and B is fixed
∴ 5 (x + 2) = 6 (x – 2)
⇒ 5x + 10 = 6x – 12
⇒ 5x – 6x = –12 – 10
∴ –x = –22
x = 22.
Therefore speed of the boat in still water is 22 kmph.