IBPS PO General Awareness: Boat and Stream questions with solutions

Q1. Quantity I: A boat running downstream covers a distance of 20 km in four hours, while for covering the same distance upstream it takes five hours. Find the speed (in km/hr) of the boat in still water. Quantity II: A boat can cover a distance of 48 km in three hours in still water. If the speed of the stream is 4 km/hr, then find the difference between the time taken by the boat to cover the same distance upstream and in still water. Choose the appropriate option.

1. Quantity I > Quantity II
2. Quantity I < Quantity II
3. Quantity I ≥ Quantity II
4. Quantity I ≤ Quantity II

Answer: Quantity I > Quantity II

For Quantity I, downstream speed = 20/4 = 5 km/hr and upstream speed = 20/5 = 4 km/hr. So boat speed in still water = (5 + 4)/2 = 4.5 km/hr. For Quantity II, still-water speed = 48/3 = 16 km/hr, so upstream speed = 16 - 4 = 12 km/hr; time difference = 48/12 - 48/16 = 4 - 3 = 1 hour. Hence Quantity I > Quantity II.