A boat can travel 24 km downstream in 4 hrs less time than it takes to travel the same distance upstream at a certain speed. If its speed is doubled and the speed of stream is tripled then it can travel 14/3 Km distance downstream in 1 hrs less time than it can upstream. Find the speed of stream.
Correct Answer: Option E
Let the stream's velocity be ‘x’ kmph
Velocity of boat in still water = ‘s’ kmph
From given conditions,
\(\frac{{24}}{{\left( {s - x} \right)}} - \frac{{24}}{{\left( {s + x} \right)}} = 4\; \Rightarrow \frac{1}{{s - x}} - \frac{1}{{s + x}} = \frac{1}{6}\)
\(\begin{array}{l} \frac{{s\; + \;x\;-\;s\; + \;x}}{{\left( {s\;-\;x} \right)\left( {s\; + \;x} \right)}} = \frac{1}{6}\;\\ 12x = {s^2}-{x^2}\; ........(i) \end{array}\)
\(\frac{{14/3}}{{\left( {2s - 3x} \right)}} - \frac{{14/3}}{{\left( {2s + 3x} \right)}} = 1\ \Rightarrow\frac{{1}}{{2s - 3x}} - \frac{{1}}{{2s + 3x}} = \frac{3}{14}\)
\(\begin{array}{l} \frac{{2s + 3x\;-2s + 3x}}{{\left( {2s-3x} \right)\left( {2s+3x} \right)}}=\frac{3}{{14}}\;\\ 28x=4{s^2}-9{x^2}\;.......(ii) \end{array}\)
Put x = (s2 - x2)/12 in equation.... (ii) and solve
7s2 - 7x2 = 12s2 - 27x2
20x2 = 5s2
4x2 = s2
Now put s2 = 4x2 in equation (i) and find the value of x
12x = 3x2
x = 4
so speed of stream = 4kmph
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