Aptitude

(Boats And Streams)

1. A man can row upstream 10 kmph and downstream 20 kmph. Find the man rate in still water
and rate of the stream.
Answer: 15 kmph, 5 kmph
Explanation:
If a is rate downstream and b is rate upstream
Rate in still water = (a+b) / 2
Rate of current = (a-b) / 2
Rate in still water = (20 + 10) / 2
= 30 / 2
= 15
= 15 kmph
Rate of current = (a-b) / 2
= (20 - 10) / 2
= 10 / 2
=5
= 5 kmph

2. A man can row upstream 13 kmph and downstream 17 kmph. Find the man rate in still water
and rate of the stream.
Answer: 15 kmph, 2 kmph
Explanation:
If a is rate downstream and b is rate upstream
Rate in still water = (a+b) / 2
Rate of current = (a-b) / 2
Rate in still water = (17 + 13) / 2
= 30 / 2
= 15
= 15 kmph
Rate of current = (a-b) / 2
= (17 - 13) / 2
=4/2
=2
= 2 kmph

3. A man takes 3 hours 45 minutes to row a boat 15 km downstream of a river and 2 hours 30
minutes to cover a distance of 5 km upstream. Find the speed of the current.
Answer: 1 km/hr
Explanation:
First of all, we know that
speed of current = (speed downstream - speed upstream) / 2
So we need to calculate speed downstream and speed upstream first.
Speed = Distance / Time
Rate of downstream = {15 / [3(3/4)]}kmph
= [15 * (4/15)]kmph

1
= 4kmph
Rate of upstream = {5 / [2(1/2)]}kmph
= [5 * (2 / 5)]kmph
= 2 kmph
So speed of current = (4 2) / 2
=2/2
=1
= 1 kmph

4. A man takes 5 hours 45 minutes to row a boat 56 km downstream of a river and 3 hours 30
minutes to cover a distance of 35 km upstream. Find the speed of the current.
Answer: 1 km/hr
Explanation:
First of all, we know that
speed of current = (speed downstream - speed upstream) / 2
So we need to calculate speed downstream and speed upstream first.
Speed = Distance / Time
Rate of downstream = {56 / [5(3/4)]}kmph
= [56 / (23 / 4)] kmph
= [56 * (4 / 23)]kmph
= [ 2 * 4] kmph
= 8kmph
Rate of upstream = {5 / [3(1/2)]}kmph
= [35 / (7 / 2)] kmph
= [35 * (2 / 7)]kmph
= [ 5 * 2] kmph
= 10 kmph
So speed of current = (10 8) / 2
=2/2
=1
= 1 kmph

5. In one hour, a boat goes 11km along the stream and 5 km against it. Find the speed of the
boat in still water
Answer: 8 km/hr
Explanation:
If a is rate downstream and b is rate upstream
Rate in still water = (a+b) / 2
= [(11 + 5) / 2]km/hr
= [16 / 2]km/hr
= 8 km/hr

6. In one hour, a boat goes 3.6 km along the stream and 2.4 km against it. Find the speed of the
boat in still water
Answer: 3 km/hr
Explanation:
If a is rate downstream and b is rate upstream
Rate in still water = (a+b) / 2
= [(3.6 + 2.4) / 2]km/hr

2
= [6 / 2]km/hr
= 3 km/hr

7. A man can row a boat 12 km/h with the stream and 8km/h against the stream. Find his speed
in still water
Answer: 10 km/hr
Explanation:
Speed of downstream = (u + v) / 2
= [(12 + 8) / 2]km/hr
= [20 / 2]km/hr
= 10 km/hr

8. A man can row a boat 27km/h with the stream and 11km/h against the stream. Find speed of
upstream
Answer: 8 km/hr
Explanation:
Speed of upstream = (u v) / 2
= [(27 - 11) / 2]km/hr
= [16 / 2]km/hr
= 8 km/hr

9. A man can row a boat 9 km/h with the stream and 5km/h against the stream. Find his speed in
still water
Answer: 7 km/hr
Explanation:
Speed of downstream = (u + v) / 2
= [(9 + 5) / 2]km/hr
= [14 / 2]km/hr
= 7 km/hr

10. A man can row a boat 57 km/h with the stream and 21km/h against the stream. Find speed of
upstream
Answer: 18 km/hr
Explanation:
Speed of upstream = (u v) / 2
= [(57 - 21) / 2]km/hr
= [36 / 2]km/hr
= 18 km/hr

11. A boat running downstream covers a distance of 16km in 2 hours while for covering the
same distance upstream, it takes 4 hours. What is the speed of the boat in still water?
Answer: 6 km/hr
Explanation:
Rate of downstream=(16/2 ) kmph
=8 kmph
Rate of upstream =(16/4) kmph
=4 kmph
Therefore Speed in still water= (a + b) / 2
= [(8+4) / 2]kmph

3
=6 kmph

12. A boat running downstream covers a distance of 36 km in 3 hours while for covering the
same distance upstream, it takes 6 hours. What is the speed of the boat in still water?
Answer: 9 km/hr
Explanation:
Rate of downstream=(36 /3 ) kmph
=12 kmph
Rate of upstream =(36/ 6) kmph
=6 kmph
Therefore Speed in still water= (a + b) / 2
= [(12 + 6) / 2]kmph
=9 kmph

13. Speed of a boat in still water is 16km/h. If it can travel 20km downstream in the same time
as it can travel 12 km upstream, the rate of stream is.
Answer: 4 km/hr
Explanation:
Speed downstream: Speed upstream=20:12
= 5:3
Speed of current=[(5-3) /(5+3)]*16
= [2 / 8] * 16
= (1/4)* 16
=4 km/h

14. Speed of a boat in still water is 66km/h. If it can travel 30km downstream in the same time
as it can travel 25 km upstream, the rate of stream is.
Answer: 6 km/hr
Explanation:
Speed downstream: Speed upstream=30:25
=6:5
Speed of current=[(6-5) /(6+5)]*66
= [1 / 11] * 66
= (1/4)* 66
=6 km/h

15. A person can row 750 metres against the stream in 11 minutes and returns in 7 minutes.
The speed of the person in in still water is :
Answer: 6 km/hr
Explanation:
The speed in upstream = 0.75 * (4/45 )*60
= 4 kmph
The speed in downstream = 0.75 *(2/15) *60
= 6 kmph
Speed in still water = (4+6)/ 2
= 10 / 2
= 5 kmph

4
16. 2. If a man rows at the rate of 6 kmph in still water and his rate aginst the current is 4.5
kmph, then the mans rate along the current is:
Answer: 7.5 km/hr
Explanation:
Let the rate along the current be x kmph
Then, (x+ 4.5) / 2 = 6
x + 4.5 = 6 * 2
x + 4.5 = 12
x = 12 4.5
x = 7.5

17. If a man rows at the rate of 10 kmph in still water and his rate aginst the current is 6 kmph,
then the mans rate along the current is:
Answer: 14 km/hr
Explanation:
Let the rate along the current be x kmph
Then, (x+ 6) / 2 = 10
x + 6 = 10 * 2
x + 6 = 20
x = 20 - 6
x = 14

18. A boat moves upstream at the rate of 1 km in 20 minutes and down stream 1 km in 12
minutes. The speed of the current is :
Answer: 1 km/hr
Explanation:
Rate upstream = [(1/20) *60]
= 3 kmph
Rate dowm stream = [(1/12) * 60
= 5 kmph
Rate of the current = (5-3)/2
= 1 kmph

19. A man can row a boat at 10 kmph in still water and the speed of the stream is 8 kmph. What
is the time taken to row a distance of 90 km down the stream ?
Answer: 5 km/hr
Explanation:
Speed in down stream = 10 +8
= 18
Time taken to cover 90 km down stream = 90/18
= 5 hrs.

20. A man can row a boat at 15 kmph in still water and the speed of the stream is 8 kmph. What
is the time taken to row a distance of 115 km down the stream ?
Answer: 5 km/hr
Explanation:
Speed in down stream = 15 +8
= 23
Time taken to cover 115 km down stream = 115/23

5
= 5 hrs.

21. If athul rows 16 km upstream and 24 km down steam taking 4 hours each, then the speed of
the
stream
Answer: 1 km/hr
Explanation:
Speed upstream = 16/4
= 4 kmph
Speed down stream = 24/4
= 6 kmph
Speed of stream = (6-4) / 2
= 1 kmph

22. 1. A boat can travel with a speed of 16 km/hr in still water. If the rate of stream is 5 km/hr,
then find the time taken by the boat to cover distance of 84 km downstream.
Answer: 4 hours
Explanation:
Lets see the question now.
Speed downstream = (16 + 5)
= 21 kmph
Time = distance/speed
= 84/21
= 4 hours

23. A man rows 750 m in 675 seconds against the stream and returns in 7 and half minutes. His
rowing speed in still water is:
Answer: 5 kmph
Explanation:
Rate upstream = (750/675)
= 10/9 m/sec
Rate downstream (750/450) m/sec
= 5/3 m/sec
Rate in still water = (1/2)*[(10/9) + (5/3)] m/sec.
= 25/18 m/sec
= (25/18)*(18/5) kmph
= 5 kmph

24. If a boat goes 7 km upstream in 42 minutes and the speed of the stream is 3 kmph, then the
speed of the boat in still water is:
Answer: 13 kmph
Explanation:
Rate upstream = (7/42)*60 kmh
= 10 kmph.
Speed of stream = 3 kmph.
Let speed in sttil water is x km/hr
Then, speed upstream = (x -3) km/hr.
x-3 = 10
x = 10 + 3

6
x = 13 kmph

25. If Rahul rows 15 km upstream in 3 hours and 21 km downstream in 3 hours, then the speed
of the stream is:
Answer: 1 kmph
Explanation:
Rate upstream = (15/3) kmph
Rate downstream = (21/3) kmph
= 7 kmph.
Speed of stream = (1/2)(7 - 5)kmph
= 1 kmph

26. The speed of a boat in still water is 15 km/hr and the rate of current is 3 km/hr. The distance
travelled downstream in 12 minutes is:
Answer: 3.6 kmph
Explanation:
Speed downstreams =(15 + 3)kmph
= 18 kmph.
Distance travelled = (18 * 12/60)km
= 3.6km

27. A man's speed with the current is 20 kmph and speed of the current is 3 kmph. The Man's
speed against the current will be
Answer: 14 kmph
Explanation:
Speed with current = speed of the man + It is speed of the current
20 = 3 + It is speed of the current
Speed in still water = 20 3
= 17
Now speed against the current will be = speed of the man - speed of the current
= 17 3
= 14 kmph

28. A man's speed with the current is 30 kmph and speed of the current is 6 kmph. The Man's
speed against the current will be
Answer: 18 kmph
Explanation:
Speed with current = speed of the man + It is speed of the current
30 = 6 + It is speed of the current
Speed in still water = 30 6
= 24
Now speed against the current will be = speed of the man - speed of the current
= 24 6
= 18 kmph

29. In one hour, a boat goes 10km along the stream and 4 km against it. Find the speed of the
boat in still water:
Answer: 7 kmph
Explanation:

7
We know we can calculate it by 1/2(a+b)
=> 1/2(10+ 4)
= 1/2(14)
= 7 km/hr

30. A man can row at 5 kmph in still water. If the velocity of the current is 1 kmph and it takes
him 1 hour to row to a place and come back. how far is that place.
Answer: 2.4 km
Explanation:
Let the distance is x km
Rate downstream = 5 + 1
= 6 kmph
Rate upstream = 5 1
= 4 kmph
x/6 + x/4 = 1 [because distance/speed = time]
=> 2x + 3x = 12
=> x = 12/5
x = 2.4 km

31. A man takes twice as long to row a distance against the stream as to row the same distance in
favour of the stream. The ratio of the speed of the boat in still water and stream is
Answer: 3: 1
Explanation:
Let speed downstream = x kmph
Then Speed upstream = 2x kmph
So ratio will be,
(2x+x)/2 : (2x-x)/2
=> 3x/2 : x/2
=> 3:1

32. A man takes thrice as long to row a distance against the stream as to row the same distance in
favour of the stream. The ratio of the speed of the boat in still water and stream is
Answer: 2: 1
Explanation:
Let speed downstream = x kmph
Then Speed upstream = 3x kmph
So ratio will be,
(3x+x)/2 : (3x-x)/2
=> 4x/2 : 2x/2
=> 2:1

33. A mans speed with the current is 15 km/hr and the speed of the current is 2.5 km/hr. The
mans speed against the current is :
Answer: 10 kmph
Explanation:
Mans speed with the current = 15 km/hr
speed of the man + speed of the current = 15 km/hr
speed of the current is 2.5 km/hr
Hence, speed of the man = 15 2.5

8
= 12.5 km/hr
Mans speed against the current = speed of the man speed of the current
= 12.5 2.5
= 10 km/hr

34. A man can row downstream at the rate of 24 Kmph and upstream at 7 Kmph. Find the mans
rate in still water and rate of current?
Answer: 15.5 kmph, 8.5 kmph
Explanation:
Rate of still water = 1/2 (down stream + upstream)
= 1/2 (24 + 7)
= 15.5 Kmph
rate of current = 1/2 (down stream upstream)
= 1/2 (24 7)
= 1/2 (17)
= 8.5 kmph

35. A boat can travel with a speed of 13 km/hr in still water. If the speed of the stream is 4 km/hr,
find the time taken by the boat to go 68 km downstream.
Answer: 4 hours
Explanation:
Speed downstream = (13 + 4) km/hr
= 17 km/hr.
Time taken to travel 68 km downstream = (68/17)
= 4 hours

36. In a stream running at 2 Kmph, a motor boat goes 10 Km upstream and back again to the
starting point in 55 minutes. Find the speed of motor boat in still water?
Answer: 22 kmph
Explanation:
Let the speed of motor boat instill water be X kmph
Then, speed in downstream = (x + 2) km
Speed in upstream = (x 2) kmph
Time taken to row 10km & back = (10/x+2,10/x-2)
[10/(x+2)] + [10/(x-2) = 55/60
11x 240x 44 = 0
(x 22)(11x + 2) = 0
x = 22 or x = -2/11
Then x = 22 kmph

37. A motorboat, whose speed in 15 km/hr in still water goes 30 km downstream and comes
back in a total of 4 hours 30 minutes. The speed of the stream (in km/hr) is
Answer: 5 km/hr
Explanation:
Let the speed of the stream be x km/hr. Then,
Speed downstream = (15 + x) km/hr,
Speed upstream = (15 - x) km/hr
So we know from question that it took 4(1/2)hrs to travel back to same point.
[30/(15 + x)] [30/(15 - x) = 4(1/2)

9
[30(15-x) 30(15+x)] / (15+x)(15-x) = 9/2
900 / (225 - x) = 9/2
9x = 225
x = 225/9
x = (15/3)
x = 15 /3
x=5

38. A motorboat, whose speed in 2 km/hr in still water goes 6 km downstream and comes back
in a total of 33 minutes. The speed of the stream (in km/hr) is
Answer: 22 km/hr
Explanation:
Let the speed of the stream be x km/hr. Then,
Speed downstream = (2 + x) km/hr,
Speed upstream = (2 - x) km/hr
So we know from question that it took (30 / 60)hrs to travel back to same point.
[6/(2 + x)] [6/(2 - x) = 33/60
[6(2-x) 6(2+x)] / (2+x)(2-x) = 11/20
(12 6x -12- 6x) = (11/20) * [4 x]
-24x = 11( 4 x)
11x 240x 44 = 0
(x 22)(11x + 2) = 0
x = 22 or x = -2/11
Then x = 22 kmph

39. A man rows 750 m in 675 seconds against the stream and returns in 6 and half minutes. His
rowing speed in still water is
Answer: (20 / 13) kmph
Explanation:
Rate upstream = (750/650) m/sec
= (75/65)m/sec
= 15/13 m/sec
Rate downstream (750/390) m/sec
= (75/ 39)m/sec
= 25/13 m/sec
Rate in still water = (1/2)*[(15 / 13) + (25/13)] m/sec
= (40/13) *(1/2)
= (20 / 13) kmph

40. A man can row at 5 kmph in still water. If the velocity of current is 1 kmph and it takes him
1 hour to row to a place and come back, how far is the place?
Answer: 2.4 km
Explanation:
Speed downstream = (5 + 1) kmph
= 6 kmph.
Speed upstream = (5 1) kmph
= 4 kmph.
Let the required distance be x km
then (x/4) + (x/6) = 1

10
2x + 3x = 12
then x = 2.4 km

41. A boat covers a certain distance downstream in 1 hour, while it comes back in 112hours. If
the speed of the stream be 3 kmph, what is the speed of the boat in still water?
Answer: 15 kmph
Explanation:
Let the speed of the boat in still water =a
Given that speed of the stream = 3 kmph
Speed downstream =(a+3) kmph
Speed upstream =(a3) kmph
He travels a certain distance downstream in 1 hour and come back in 112 hour.
i.e., distance travelled downstream in 1 hour = distance travelled upstream in 112 hour
Since distance = speed time, we have
(a+3) * 1 = (a-3) * (3/2)
2a + 6 = 3a 9
a = 15 kmph
The speed of the boat in still water = 15 kmph

42. In an hour a boat goes 10 Km along the stream and 4 Km against the stream. The speed of
the boat in still water (in Kmph) is:
Answer: 7 kmph
Explanation:
Let the speed of boat in still water = x Kmph
The speed of stream = y Kmph
x + y = 10 1
x y = 4 2
by solving 2 equations, we get
x = 7, y = 3
The speed of boat in still water = 7 Kmph

43. A man can row 6 kmph in still water. When the river is running at 1.2 kmph, it takes him 1
hour to row to a place and black. What is the total distance traveled by the man?
Answer: 5.76 km
Explanation:
Speed of boat in still water = 6 kmph
Speed of stream = 1.2 kmph
Down Stream = 6 + 1.2
= 7.2 kmph
Up Stream = 6-1.2
= 4.8 kmph
Let x be the distance traveled by man in one side.
x/7.2 + x/4.8 = 1
x = 2.88 km
Total distance traveled by man = 2.88 * 2
= 5.76 km

11
44. The time taken by a man to row his boat upstream is twice the time taken by him to row the
same distance downstream. If the speed of the boat in still water is 42 kmph, find the speed of
the stream?
Answer: 14 kmph
Explanation:
The ratio of the times taken is 2:1.
The ratio of the speed of the boat in still water to the speed of the stream = (2+1)/(2-1)
= 3/1
= 3:1
Speed of the stream = 42/3
= 14 kmph

45. A man can row 24 kmph in still water. It takes him thrice as long to row up as to row down
the river. Find the rate of the stream?
Answer: 12 kmph
Explanation:
Let man's rate upsteam be X kmph
Then his rate of downstream = 3X kmph
Rate still water = 1/2 (3X + X) = 2X
2X = 24
X = 12
Rate of upstream = 12
Rate of downstream = 36
Rate of stream 1/2 ( 36 - 12) = 12 kmph

46. A man can row 18 kmph in still water. It takes him thrice as long to row up as to row down
the river. Find the rate of stream.
Answer: 9 km/hr
Explanation:
Let mans rate upstream be x kmph.
Then, his rate downstream = 3x kmph
Rate in still water = 1/2 (3x + x) kmph = 2x kmph
So, 2x = 18
x=9
Rate upstream = 9 km/hr,
Rate downstream = 27 km/hr
Hence, rate of stream = 1/2 (27 9) km/hr
= 9 km/hr

47. In one hour, a boat goes 21 km along the stream and 5 km against the stream. The speed of
the boat in still water (in km/hr) is:
Answer: 13 kmph
Explanation:
Speed is still water = 1/2 (21 + 5) kmph
= 13 kmph

48. A man can row upstream at 8 kmph and downstream at 16 kmph. The speed of the stream is:
Answer: 4 kmph
Explanation:

12
Speed of stream = 1/2 (16 - 8) kmph
= 4 kmph

49. A man rows downstream 32 km and 14 km upstream. If he takes 6 hours to cover each
distance, then the Velocity (in kmph) of current is:
Answer: 1.5 kmph
Explanation:
Rate downstream = 32/6 kmph
Rate upstream = 14/6 kmph
Velocity of current = 1/2 (32/6 - 14/6) kmph
= 3/2 kmph
= 1.5 kmph

50. If a boat goes 7 km upstream in 42 minutes and the speed of the stream is 3 kmph, then the
speed of the boat in still water is:
Answer: 13 kmph
Explanation:
Rate upstream = [(7/42) * 60] kmph
= 10 kmph
Speed of stream = 3kmph
Let speed is still water be x km/hr.
Then, Speed upstream = (x 3) km/hr.
x 3 = 10
x = 10 + 3
x = 13 km/hr

51. A mans speed with the current is 15 km/hr and the speed of the current is 2.5 km/hr. the
mans speed against the current is:
Answer: 10 kmph
Explanation:
Mans rate in still water = (15 - 25) km/hr
= 12.5 km/hr
Mans rate against the current = (12.5 2.5) km/hr
= 10 km/hr

52. If a man rows at the rate of 5 kmph in still water and his rate against the current is 3.5 kmph,
then the mans rate along the current is:
Answer: 6.5 kmph
Explanation:
Let the rate along the current be x kmph.

Then, 1/2 (x + 3.5) = 5

x = 6.5 kmph

53. A boat can travel with a speed of 13 km/hr in still water. If the speed of the stream is 4 km/hr,
find the time taken by the boat to go 68 km downstream.
Answer: 4 hrs

13
Explanation:
Speed Downstream = (13 + 4) km/hr
= 17 km/hr.
Time taken to travel 68 km downstream = 68/17 hrs
= 4 hrs

54. The Speed of a boat in still water is 15 km/hr and the rate of current is 3 km/hr. The distance
travelled downstream in 12 minutes is:
Answer: 3.6 km
Explanation:
Speed downstream = (15 + 3) kmph
= 18 kmph
Distance travelled = [18 * (12/60)] km
= 3.6 km.

55. A man can row at 15 kmph in still water. If the velocity of current is 1 kmph and it takes him
1 hour to row to a place and come back, how far is the place?
Answer: 2.4 km
Explanation:
Speed downstream = (5 + 1) kmph
= 6 kmph.
Speed upstream = (5 1) kmph
= 4 kmph.
Let the required distance be x km.
Then, x/6 + 4/4 = 1
2x + 3x = 12
5x = 12
x = 2.4 km.

14