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  1. Ritu can row downstream 20 km in 2 hours, and

upstream 4km in 2 hours.

Find her speed of rowing in still water and the speed of the current.

Soln.

Let Ritu’s speed in still water be x km/hr and the speed of current be y km/hr

Speed of the Boat in upstream = (x – y ) km / hr

Speed of the boat in downstream = (x + y) km / hr

Distance covered in downstream = 20 km

Time taken in down stream = 2 hrs

We Know that,

Speed = Distance

Time

x + y = 20

2

x + y = 10 ….(i)

Upstream

Downstream

What we need to find?

In this question we come across two new terms

Upstream and Downstream

The boat and the stream travel in

opposite direction,

we say boat is moving upstream

So in upstream the speed will increase or decrease??

Speed increases

Distance travelled in upstream is

Distance travelled in downstream is

Similarly in upstream the speed of the boat Decreases

Speed Reduces

5 – 2 = 3 km/hr

What will happen to your speed?

And somebody opposes you with the speed of 2km / hr

Suppose you are moving with speed of 5 km/hr.

Eg : Sea, River etc

Stream means moving water or running water from higher level to lower level

Eg : Swimming pool, pond etc

Still water means the water which is not moving

The boat and the stream travel in same direction,

We say boat is moving Downstream

Distance covered in upstream = 4 km

Time Taken in upstream = 2 hrs

We Know that,

Speed = Distance

Time

x - y = 4

2

x - y = 2 ….(ii)

Solve the equations with either substitution or elimination method

x

= 6

Substituting x = 6 in (i)

y = 4

  • Speed of rowing in still water is 6 km/hr and speed of current is 4 km/hr