Question

A steamer goes downstream and covers the distance between two places in 4 hours while it covers the same distance upstream in 6 hours is the speed of the stream is 4 km per hour find the speed of the steamer in still water

Answer 1

time taken to cover the distance downstream = 4hrs

time taken to cover the distance upstream      = 6hrs

let the speed of streamer be 'x'

speed of the stream= 4kmph

so, speed of streamer downstream= x+4

      speed of streamer upstream= x-4

therefore, distance upstream=distance downstream

                  speed x time        =  speed x time

                (x+4) (4)                   =  (x-4) (6)

                    4x + 16                =  6x - 24

                      2x                      = 40

therefore,         x                      = 20

therefore,speed of streamer in still water= 20kmph