Boats and Streams
In questions of boats and stream, there are generally two variables involved - the speed of the boat(s) and the speed of the stream.
You will only seldom get a question in which the water is still, i.e. speed of the stream is nil. In most cases the stream will be flowing with a certain speed in some direction.
So, obviously if you will row a boat in a running stream, two cases may arise. Either the boat will row with the stream or against it.
Now, the questions in this chapter are framed in various ways. Let us study them.
Individual speeds of boat and stream given
This is the easiest question type, wherein you will be given the individual speeds of both boat and stream.
Let the speed of a boat in still water be B km/hr and the speed of the stream be S km/hr.
Finding Downstream speed
Downstream - it means boat is moving with the current
When a boat is moving in the same direction as the water current, the speed of the water aids and so adds to the speed of the boat.
Downstream speed = (B + S) km/hr
Finding Upstream speed
Upstream - it means boat is moving against the current
When a boat is moving in a direction opposite to that of the water current, the speed of the water opposes and so reduces the speed of the boat.
Upstream speed = (B – S) km/hr
Note: If objects move in opposite direction, then their relative speed is the addition of their speeds and if objects move in the same direction, their relative speed is their difference.
But in case of boats and streams, when boat moves downstream (i.e. both boat and stream are moving in the same direction), we add their speeds and when boat moves upstream (i.e. in opposite direction of the stream) we subtract their speeds.
Q. The speed of boat in still water is 8 m/sec and the speed of the stream is 5 m/sec. What is the ratio of the time taken to cover a particular stretch of distance in upstream and downstream direction?
Explanations :
Distance travelled in both direction is the same.
Ratio of upstream and downstream speeds are (8 - 5) : (8 + 5) = 3 : 13
So, time taken in travelling upstream and downstream will be in the ratio 13 : 3
Distance travelled in both direction is the same. Let it be d.
Time taken to travel upstream = distance / upstream speed = d / (8 - 5) = d/3 sec
Time taken to travel downstream = distance / downstream speed = d / (8 + 5) = d/13 sec
So, time taken in travelling upstream and downstream will be in the ratio (d/3) : (d/13) = 13 : 3
Q. The speed of a boat in still water is 12 km/h and the speed of the stream is 8 km/h. Total distance covered by a boat in travelling from its source to destination and coming back from destination to source is 120 km. What is the total time taken by the boat in the journey?
(a) 18 hours (b) 12 hours (c) 20 hours (d) 16 hours
Explanation:
Downstream speed = Speed of boat + Speed of stream = (12 + 8) = 20 km/hr.
Upstream speed = Speed of boat - Speed of stream = (12 - 8) = 4 km/hr.
One-side distance = 120/2 = 60 km
Time = Distance/Speed
So, Time taken by the boat to cover downstream distance = 60/20 = 3 hours
And Time taken by the boat to cover upstream distance = 60/4 = 15 hours
So, Total time taken by the boat to cover upstream distance and downstream distance = 3 + 15 = 18 hours
Answer: (a)
Finding Average speed
If a man rows the same distance up and down, then
Average speed throughout the journey = $\frac{Downstream \hspace{1ex} Speed × Upstream \hspace{1ex} Speed}{Speed \hspace{1ex} in \hspace{1ex} still \hspace{1ex} water}$
So, Average Speed = $\frac{(B + S)(B − S)}{B}$ km/hr
Q. A man can row at a speed of 15 km/hr in still water and the speed of the stream is 5 km/hr. If he goes upstream to a point and then comes back to the starting point, then what must be his average speed for the whole journey?
Explanations :
Upstream speed = 15 – 5 = 10 km/hr
Downstream speed = 15 + 5 = 20 km/hr
Average Speed = $\frac{Downstream \hspace{1ex} Speed × Upstream \hspace{1ex} Speed}{Speed \hspace{1ex} in \hspace{1ex} still \hspace{1ex} water}$ = (10 × 20)/15 = 40/3 km/hr
Let the distance travelled from starting to end point be d km
Upstream speed = 15 – 5 = 10 km/hr
Downstream speed = 15 + 5 = 20 km/hr
Total time = d/10 + d/20 = 3d/20
Average Speed = Total distance/Total time = $\frac{2d}{(\frac{3d}{20})}$ = 40/3 km/hr
Upstream and Downstream times given
Here, we come across two types of questions.
Absolute values of times given
A man rows a certain distance downstream in ‘$t_1$’ hours and returns the same distance upstream in ‘$t_2$’ hours, then
Speed of the boat in still water, B = S $(\frac{t_2 + t_1}{t_2 − t_1})$ km/hr
Q. A boatman can row a certain distance upstream in 8 hours and the same distance downstream in 6 hours. If the speed of the stream is 2 km/hr, then what must be the speed of the boat in still water?
Explanations :
A man rows a certain distance downstream in ‘$t_1$’ hours and returns the same distance upstream in ‘$t_2$’ hours, then
Speed of the boat in still water, B = S $(\frac{t_2 + t_1}{t_2 − t_1})$ km/hr = 2 (8 + 6) / (8 - 6) = 14 km/hr
Let distance from starting point to end point be LCM (8, 6) = 24 km.
So, upstream speed, B – S = 24/8 = 3 km/hr ……(1)
And downstream speed, B + S = 24/6 = 4 km/hr ……(2)
Using 1 and 2, we get:
B = 3.5 km/hr and S = 0.5 km/hr
So, if S is 0.5 km/hr, then B is 3.5 km/hr
But we know that S = 2 km/hr, so B = (3.5/0.5) × 2 = 14 km/hr
Ratio of times given
A man takes n times as long to row upstream then to row downstream in the river (the same distance), then $t_2$ = n$t_1$
Speed of the boat in still water, B = S $(\frac{t_2 + t_1}{t_2 − t_1})$ km/hr = S $(\frac{n + 1}{n - 1})$ km/hr
Difference of times given
A man can row a boat in still water at B km/hr and a stream is flowing at S km/hr.
If he takes ‘t’ hours more in upstream than to go downstream for the same distance (difference in time given), then
Distance between the two places = $\frac{(B^2 − S^2) t}{2S}$ km
Sum of times given
If it takes him ‘t’ hours to row to a place and come back (total time given), then
Distance between the two places = $\frac{(B^2 − S^2) t}{2B}$ km
Q. A boat can be rowed at a speed of 8 km/hr in still water. It travels 27 km upstream and then returns back to the starting point in a river flowing at a speed of 4 km/hr. What must be the total journey time?
Explanations :
If it takes him ‘t’ hours to row to a place and come back (total time given), then
Distance between the two places = $\frac{(B^2 − S^2) t}{2B}$
Or 27 = $\frac{(8^2 − 4^2) t}{(2 × 8)}$
Or 27 = $\frac{t (64 - 16)}{(2 × 8)}$
Or 27 = $\frac{48 t}{(2 × 8)}$
Or 27 = 3t
Or t = 27/3 = 9 hours
Downstream speed = 8 + 4 = 12 km/hr
Upstream speed = 8 - 4 = 4 km/hr
Total time = Time taken upstream + Time taken downstream = 27/4 + 27/12 = (27/4) (1 + 1/3) = (27/4) (4/3) = 27/3 = 9 hours
Upstream and Downstream speeds given
Let the down stream speed be x km/hr and the upstream speed be y km/hr, then
Speed in still water = $\frac{1}{2}$ (x + y) km/hr
Speed of stream = $\frac{1}{2}$ (x – y) km/hr
Q. Upstream speed and downstream speed of a boat are 4 km/hr and 6 km/her respectively. Find the speed of the boat in still water.
Explanations :
Let the down stream speed be x km/hr and the upstream speed be y km/hr, then
Speed in still water = $\frac{1}{2}$ (x + y) = (6 + 4)/2 = 10/2 = 5 km/hr
Let the speed of boat in still water be B km/hr and speed of stream be S km/hr, then
B + S = 6 ….. (1)
B – S = 4 ….. (2)
On adding (1) and (2), we get:
2B = 10
Or B = 5 km/hr