A boat running upstream covers 10 km in 30 minutes, and running downstream covers the same 10 km in 25 minutes. Find the speed of the water current (in km/h).

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 2 km/h

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Equal distances allow conversion of times to effective speeds; the current is half the difference of downstream and upstream speeds.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Upstream: 10 km in 30 min = 0.5 h ⇒ vu = 20 km/h
  • Downstream: 10 km in 25 min = 25/60 h ⇒ vd = 10 / (25/60) = 24 km/h


Concept / Approach:
Current c = (vd − vu)/2 and still-water speed b = (vd + vu)/2.


Step-by-Step Solution:

c = (24 − 20)/2 = 2 km/hb = (24 + 20)/2 = 22 km/h (for completeness)


Verification / Alternative check:
Check times: 10/24 ≈ 0.4167 h (25 min) and 10/20 = 0.5 h (30 min).


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
3, 1, 0.5 do not reflect the half-difference of 24 and 20 which is exactly 2.


Common Pitfalls:
Using average time instead of converting each leg to a speed first, which is cleaner here.


Final Answer:
2 km/h.

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