A motor boat whose speed is 15 km / hr in still water goes 30 km downstream and comes back in a total of four hours and 30 minutes . What is the speed of the stream in km / hr ?

This question was previously asked in
CSIR CERI JSA Official Paper-I (Held On: 2022)
View all CSIR Junior Secretariat Assistant Papers >
  1. 4 km / hr  
  2. 5 km / hr 
  3. 6 km / hr
  4. 10 km / hr

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : 5 km / hr 
Free
CSIR JSA General Awareness Mock Test
8.2 K Users
20 Questions 60 Marks 12 Mins

Detailed Solution

Download Solution PDF

Given:

Speed of the motor boat in still water = 15 km/hr

Distance traveled downstream = 30 km

Total time for downstream and upstream = 4 hours 30 minutes = 4.5 hours

Calculation:

Let the speed of the stream be x km/hr.

Speed downstream = (15 + x) km/hr

Speed upstream = (15 - x) km/hr

Time taken to travel downstream = 30 / (15 + x)

Time taken to travel upstream = 30 / (15 - x)

Total time = 4.5 hours

⇒ 30 / (15 + x) + 30 / (15 - x) = 4.5

⇒ 30(15 - x) + 30(15 + x) = 4.5(152 - x2)

⇒ 450 - 30x + 450 + 30x = 4.5(225 - x2)

⇒ 900 = 4.5(225 - x2)

⇒ 900 = 1012.5 - 4.5x2

⇒ 4.5x2 = 1012.5 - 900

⇒ 4.5x2 = 112.5

⇒ x2 = 112.5 / 4.5

⇒ x2 = 25

⇒ x = 5 km/hr

The speed of the stream is 5 km/hr.

Latest CSIR Junior Secretariat Assistant Updates

Last updated on May 21, 2025

->The CSIR Junior Secretariat Assistant Provisional Response Sheet has been released on 21st May 2025 at the official website.

-> The CSIR Junior Secretariat Assistant Notification 2025 written examination dates has been released for Advt No. CRRI/02/PC/JSA-JST/2025.

-> Candidates had applied online from 22nd March to 21st April 2025.  

-> The CSIR JSA salary ranges from INR 19,900 - INR 63,200 (Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun) and INR 35,600 (Indian Institute of Toxicology Research).

-> The selection of candidates for this post will be based on a Written Exam, followed by a Computer Typing Test.

-> Prepare for the exam with CSIR Junior Secretariat Assistant Previous Year Papers.

More Boat and River Questions

More Speed Time and Distance Questions

Get Free Access Now
Hot Links: teen patti rich teen patti real rummy teen patti