Boats and Streams Questions with Solutions | Set 1 (Q1 to Q10)

This set contains Time Speed and Distance Questions with Solutions — Set 1 (Q1 to Q10) covering a mix of question types and difficulty levels — from basic to advanced — exactly as asked in real competitive exams.

Solutions are written in a simple, step-by-step notebook style for easy self-study and quick understanding. Each solution is broken down step by step so even the toughest question feels easy. These questions are hand-picked for students preparing for SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, CAT, Bank PO, Bank Clerk, UPSC CSAT, Railway RRB, AMCAT, eLitmus, TCS NQT and all campus placement aptitude tests. International students preparing for GRE, GMAT, SAT, ACT, MAT and all Numerical Reasoning Tests will find these equally useful.

✏️ Attempt each question on your own first — then check the solution below.

1. The speed of the current is 5 km/h. A boat goes 10 km upstream and back again to the starting point in 50 min. Find the speed of the boat in still water.

2. In a fixed time, a boy swims \(\frac{5}{2}\) times the distance along the current that he swims that he swims against the current. If the speed of the current is 6 km/h. Find the speed of the boy in still water.

3. The speed of a motor boat in still water is 60 km/h. If the motor boat travels 90 km along the stream in 1h 7min 30sec, then find the time taken by it to cover the same distance against the stream.

4. Two boats A and B start towards each other from two places, 112 km apart. Speed of the boat A and B in still water are 8 km/h & 14 km/h respectively. If A proceeds downstream & B proceeds upstream then after how much time they will meet ?

5. A person can row 12 km/h in still water and he finds that it takes him twice as long to row up as to row down the river. Find the speed of the stream.

6. A boat goes 42 km upstream in 7 hours and 40 km downstream in 5 hours. Find the speed of the boat in still water.

7. A man can row at a speed of 18 km/h in still water. If he takes 2 times as long to row a distance upstream as to row the same distance downstream then find the speed of the stream.

8. The speed of a motor boat to that of current of water is 30 : 7. The boat goes along the current in 4h 36 min. Find the time when it will come back ?

9. The speed of a boat in still water is 8 km/h and the speed of the stream is 3 km/h. A man rows to a place at a distance of 41.25 km and comes back to the starting point. Find the total time taken by him.

10. If the speed of boat in still water is 5 km/h and upstream speed is 3 km/h. Find the speed of the current.

1. The speed of the current is 5 km/h. A boat goes 10 km upstream and back again to the starting point in 50 min. Find the speed of the boat in still water.
Sol:
d = 10
w = 5
T = 50 min = \(\frac{5}{6}\) hour
d = \(\frac{{{B^2} – {W^2}}}{{2B}} \times T\)
10 = \(\frac{{{B^2} – 25}}{{2B}} \times \frac{5}{6}\)
B² – 24B – 25 = 0
(B – 25)(B + 1) = 0
B = 25 km/h      Answer

2. In a fixed time, a boy swims \(\frac{5}{2}\) times the distance along the current that he swims that he swims against the current. If the speed of the current is 6 km/h. Find the speed of the boy in still water.
Sol:

⟹ \(\frac{{B + W}}{{B – W}} = \frac{5}{2}\)
⟹ 5B – 5W = 2B + 2W
3B = 7W
3B = 7 × 6
B = 14 km/h     Answer 

3. The speed of a motor boat in still water is 60 km/h. If the motor boat travels 90 km along the stream in 1h 7min 30sec, then find the time taken by it to cover the same distance against the stream.
Sol:
B = 60 km/h
\(\frac{{90}}{{B + W}}\) = 1h 7min 30 sec = \(\frac{9}{8}\)
B + W = 80
60 + W = 80
W = 20 km/h
∴ upstream rate = B – W = 60 – 20 = 40 km/u
∴ tᵤₚ = \(\frac{{90}}{{40}}\) h = 2h 15 min     Answer

4. Two boats A and B start towards each other from two places, 112 km apart. Speed of the boat A and B in still water are 8 km/h & 14 km/h respectively. If A proceeds downstream & B proceeds upstream then after how much time they will meet ?
Sol:

to calculate relative speed of A with respect to B, speed of water is of no use.
∴ relative speed = A + B = 8 + 1 4 = 22 km/h
∴ they will meet after = \(\frac{{112}}{{22}}\)
 = \(\frac{{56}}{{11}}\) h            Answer

5. A person can row 12 km/h in still water and he finds that it takes him twice as long to row up as to row down the river. Find the speed of the stream.
Sol:
B = 12 km/h
Since distance is constant
Speed ∝ \(\frac{1}{{time}}\)

\(\frac{{B – W}}{{B + W}} = \frac{1}{2}\)
⟹ B = 3W
12 = 3W
W = 4 km/h      Answer 

6. A boat goes 42 km upstream in 7 hours and 40 km downstream in 5 hours. Find the speed of the boat in still water.
Sol:
(B + W) × 7 = 42
B – W = 6 …………. (i)
& (B + W) × 5 = 40
B + W  = 8 …………….(ii)
∴ 2B = 14
B = 7 km/h      Answer

7. A man can row at a speed of 18 km/h in still water. If he takes 2 times as long to row a distance upstream as to row the same distance downstream then find the speed of the stream.
Sol:
B = 18 km/h

\(\frac{{B – W}}{{B + W}} = \frac{1}{2}\)
⟹ B = 3W
18 = 3W
W = 6 km/h    Answer

8. The speed of a motor boat to that of current of water is 30 : 7. The boat goes along the current in 4h 36 min. Find the time when it will come back ?
Sol:
\(\frac{B}{W} = \frac{{30}}{7}\)                  4h 36min = \(\frac{{23}}{5}\) h
distance = (30 + 7) × \(\frac{{23}}{5}\)
∴ time for upstream = \(\frac{{37 \times \frac{{23}}{5}}}{{30 – 7}}\)
 = \(\frac{{37}}{5}\) h
 = 7h 24 min         Answer

9. The speed of a boat in still water is 8 km/h and the speed of the stream is 3 km/h. A man rows to a place at a distance of 41.25 km and comes back to the starting point. Find the total time taken by him.
Sol:
d = \(\frac{{{B^2} – {W^2}}}{{2B}} \times T\)
41.25 = \(\frac{{8 \times 8 – 3 \times 3}}{{2 \times 8}} \times T\)
T = 12 hour      Answer

10. If the speed of boat in still water is 5 km/h and upstream speed is 3 km/h. Find the speed of the current.
Sol:
B = 5 km/h
B – W = 3 km/h
5 – W = 3
W = 2 km/h          Answer

✅ Well done on completing Set 1!

Continue practising with Boats and Streams Questions 11 to 20 → Set 2 or revisit the Boats and Streams Concept Page to strengthen your formulas and tricks before moving ahead.

Consistent practice is the key to mastering boats and streams for SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, CAT, Bank PO, Bank Clerk, UPSC CSAT, Railway RRB, AMCAT, eLitmus, TCS NQT and international exams including GRE, GMAT, SAT, ACT, MAT and all Numerical Reasoning Tests. Want to understand the concept better? Read about Relative Velocity on Wikipedia before attempting the next set.

This page is part of our complete series of boats and streams questions with solutions for competitive exams — covering every question type from basic to advanced so you can build speed, accuracy and confidence. Practising these questions regularly will also strengthen your core boats and streams concept before your exam day.