A motorboat whose speed is 20 km/h in still water takes 30 minutes more to go 24 km upstream than to cover the same distance downstream. If the speed of the boat in still water is increased by 2 km/h, then how much time will it take to go 39 km downstream and 30 km upstream?
Correct Answer :
3 h 10 minutes
Solution :
To find the total time taken for the downstream and upstream journeys under the new conditions, we can break the problem down into step-by-step calculations.
Step 1: Find the speed of the stream
Let the speed of the stream be represented by km/h.
Given that the speed of the boat in still water is km/h:
The speed of the boat upstream (against the stream) is km/h.
The speed of the boat downstream (with the stream) is km/h.
The distance covered in both directions is km, and the difference in time is minutes, which is equal to hour.
Using the formula , we can write the equation as:
Now, let us solve for :
Take common on the left-hand side:
Simplify the expression inside the brackets:
Cross-multiplying gives:
Rearranging this into a standard quadratic equation:
Factoring the quadratic equation:
Since the speed of the stream cannot be negative, we choose the positive value:
km/h.
Step 2: Calculate the new speeds
The speed of the boat in still water is increased by km/h:
New speed in still water = km/h.
Speed of the stream = km/h.
New downstream speed = km/h.
New upstream speed = km/h.
Step 3: Calculate the total time required
Time taken to cover km downstream:
Time taken to cover km upstream:
Total time required for both journeys is:
.
Therefore, the correct option is 3 h 10 minutes.
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