A boat takes 90 minutes less to travel 36 km downstream than to travel the same distance upstream. If the speed of the boat in still water is 10 km/h, what is the speed of the stream ? ?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is option (3) : 2 km/h
$d= 36km, t = 90\, min = 1.5\, hours$
$x= 10\, km/h$
$∵d=\frac{t(x^2-y^2)}{2y}$
$36=\frac{1.5(10^2-y^2)}{2y}$
$ 48y = 100-y^2$
$y^2+48y-100=0$
$y^2+50y-2y-100=0$
$y(y+50)-2(y+50)=0$
$(y-2)(y+50)=0$
$y =-50, 2 $
The value y cannot be negative
So, the speed of the stream is 2 km/h