A man can row upstream 10 kmph and downstream 20 kmph. Find the man rate in still water and rate of the stream.

Answer: Option C

Explanation:

Please remember,
If a is rate downstream and b is rate upstream
Rate in still water = 1/2(a+b)
Rate of current = 1/2(a-b)

=> Rate in still water = 1/2(20+10) = 15 kmph
=> Rate of current = 1/2(20-10) = 5 kmph

Answer: Option D

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.

So,
\begin{aligned}
\frac{30}{15+x} - \frac{30}{15-x} = 4\frac{1}{2} \\
=> \frac{900}{225 - x^2} = \frac{9}{2} \\
=> 9x^2 = 225 \\
=> x = 5 km/hr
\end{aligned}

Answer: Option A

Explanation:

It is very important to check, if the boat speed given is in still water or with water or against water. Because if we neglect it we will not reach on right answer. I just mentioned here because mostly mistakes in this chapter are of this kind only.

Lets see the question now.
Speed downstream = (16 + 5) = 21 kmph

Time = distance/speed = 84/21 = 4 hours

Answer: Option A

Explanation:

First of all, we know that
speed of current = 1/2(speed downstream - speed upstream) [important]

So we need to calculate speed downstream and speed upstream first.

Speed = Distance / Time [important]

\begin{aligned}
\text {Speed upstream =}\\ (\frac{15}{3\frac{3}{4}}) km/hr \\
= 15 \times \frac{4}{15} = 4 km/hr \\

\text{Speed Downstream = }
(\frac{5}{2\frac{1}{2}}) km/hr \\
= 5 \times \frac{2}{5} = 2 km/hr \\
\text {So speed of current = } \frac{1}{2}(4-2) \\
= 1 km/hr
\end{aligned}

Answer: Option D

Explanation:

Rate upstream = (15/3) kmph
Rate downstream (21/3) kmph = 7 kmph.
Speed of stream (1/2)(7 - 5)kmph = 1 kmph