Aptitude - Boats and Streams - Discussion

Discussion Forum : Boats and Streams - General Questions (Q.No. 3)
3.
A boat running upstream takes 8 hours 48 minutes to cover a certain distance, while it takes 4 hours to cover the same distance running downstream. What is the ratio between the speed of the boat and speed of the water current respectively?
2 : 1
3 : 2
8 : 3
Cannot be determined
None of these
Answer: Option
Explanation:

Let the man's rate upstream be x kmph and that downstream be y kmph.

Then, distance covered upstream in 8 hrs 48 min = Distance covered downstream in 4 hrs.

x x 8 4 = (y x 4)
5

44 x =4y
5

y = 11 x.
5

Required ratio = y + x : y - x
2 2

   = 16x x 1 : 6x x 1
5 2 5 2

   = 8 : 3
5 5

   = 8 : 3.

Discussion:
109 comments Page 2 of 11.

Ajit said:   5 years ago
Just look simple method:

Upward= 8 hr + 48 Min. = 8+48/60 = 44/5.
Downward = 4 hr.
Speed of stream = (44/5 -4)/2 = 2.4 hr.
Speed of boat = 4+2.4 = 6.4 hr.
So, Ratio is 6.4:2.4.
i.e 8:3.
(6)

Virendra kumar said:   5 years ago
Let,

Upstream speed = X kmph.
Downstream spead = Y kmph.

So,
We know that distance is the same.
And we know, D=SXT (speedxtime)
D= X(8+48/60) upstream case--->eq1
D=Y(4)---> eq 2
Now, equate both.

4Y = X(8+4/5).
4Y= X(44/5).
Y=X(11/5).
Y/X = 11/5.

So now relate as Y=11, X=5.
Now speed of water(S.W) = downstrean-upstream/2.
= Y-X/2.
=11-5/2 = 6/2 = 3.

Now, speed of boat = downstream - speed of the water.
= Y- (S.W).
= 11-3 = 8.

Now ratio of both as given in question,
Ratio of boat speed to water speed = 8/3.
Ratio = 8:3.
Hope you'll get it well.
(6)

Lakaka said:   2 years ago
Thank you. @Tushar Pawar.
(5)

Aman sankhyan said:   4 years ago
@All.

You did not mention which speed of the boat to be calculated if it was in the still water or downstream or against the stream!
(3)

Mallika B said:   2 years ago
Can somebody please explain why have we done (y-x/2) in the required ratio step? If that is associated with downstream, why are we subtracting?

Please explain me.
(3)

Sorsta said:   1 year ago
Well said, Thank you @Mahesh.
(3)

Kanchan said:   5 years ago
By using the formula we have;
Speed upstream = u-v.
Speed downstream= u+v.
Where u&v is speed of the boat in still water and speed of stream respectively.
Given that distance covered is equal so;

By the time distance formula;
Speed *time= distance.
Both the values put according to formula.
(u-v) *8*48/60=(u+v) 4.
(u-v) 8*4/5=(u+v) 4.
44/5u-44/5v= 4u+4v.
44/5u- 4u = 44/5v+4v.
u[44/5-4] = v[44/5+4].
24u = 64v.
u/v = 64/24.
u/v = 8/3.

So, the ratio between the speed of the boat and speed of the water current is;
8:3.
(2)

Anish said:   1 decade ago
How this required ratio? pls explain?
(1)

Vikas verma said:   1 decade ago
Let the speed of the Boat be X kmph and Speed of the stream be Y kmph.

Then 44/5 * (X-Y) = 4 * (X+Y).

By solving the equation you will get X/Y = 8:3.

I hope you'll understand.
(1)

Hely said:   8 years ago
Boat speed=x,
Water speed=y then.

The upstream speed of boat=(x-y),
And downstream speed of boat=(x+y).

The distance of upstream =speed of downstream
so, distance=speed * time.

(x-y)*528 = (x+y)*240,
(x-y)*(11/5) = (x+y),
11x-11y = 5x+5y,
6x-16y = 0,
6x = 16y,
x/y = 16/6,
x/y = 8/3 (speed of boat/speed of water).
(1)


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