MATH

Time, Speed & Distance

- Boats & Races

Every Year 1 Crore Students Trust Us for Test Prep

 [Link]  1800-572-7346
 TIME, SPEED & DISTANCE

Boats and Streams

The topic of Boats and Streams is very important in
Time, Speed and Distance. Let us start the topic with
basic definitions.
A boat is said to go downstream if it is moving along the
direction of the stream. The net speed of the boat in this
case is called downstream speed.
A boat is said to go upstream if it is moving in the
direction opposite to the direction of the stream. The net
speed of the boat in this case is called upstream speed.
Let the speed of the boat in still water is 'b' km/hr and the
speed of the stream is 'w' km/hr. When the boat goes
downstream then the speed will be (b + w) km/hr as in
this case the water will take the boat along with it.
When the boat goes upstream then the speed will be (b -
w) km/hr as in this case the water will offer resistance to
the boat.
Let the downstream speed = D = b + w ……….(i)
Then the upstream speed = U = b – w ………(ii)
Adding the two equations, we get 2b = D + U.

1
⇒ b = (D+U) / 2 which gives the speed of the boat in
terms of downstream and upstream speed.
Subtracting the equation (i) and (ii), we get D – U = 2w ⇒
w = (D-U) / 2 which gives the speed of the stream in
terms of downstream and upstream speed. You should
remember these boats and streams formulas.
Solved Example
Ex 1: A boat travels at a speed of 30 kmph with the
stream and 18 kmph against the stream. What is
the boat’s speed in still water and the speed of the
stream?
Sol: Speed of the boat in still water = 30  18 = 24 kmph
2
30  18
and Speed of the stream = = 6 kmph
2

Ex 2: If Anshul rows 15 km upstream and 21 km

downstream taking 3 hours each time, then the
speed of the stream is
Sol: Basic Formula:
1
Speed of the stream = (D-U) where D = speed
2
downstream, U = speed upstream

2
 Speed downstream = distance travelled / time
taken = 21/3 D = 7km / hr
Speed upstream = 15/3 =5  U = 5km/hr
1
Speed of the stream = ½ (D-U) km/hr = (7-5) = 1
2
km/hr
Ex 3: A man rows 750 m in 675 seconds against the
1
stream and returns in 7 minutes. What is the
2
rowing speed in still water?
Sol: Speed in still water = ½ (D + U) km/h where ‘D’ is
speed downstream and ‘U’ is speed upstream.
Speed upstream ‘U’ = 750/675 = 10/9 m/sec
750 5
Speed downstream ‘D’ =  m/s
450 3
Speed of boat in still water = ½ (D + U) = 1/2 (10/9
+ 5/3) × 18/5 = 5 km/hr
Ex 4: A man can row 8 km/hr in still water. If the speed
of the current is 2 km/hr and it takes 4 hours to a
man to row a place and come back, then how far is
the place?
Sol: The downstream speed = 8 + 2 = 10 km/hr and the
upstream speed = 8 - 2 = 6 km/hr

3
 Let the distance is 'x' km. We have (x/10) + (x/6) =
4
Solving this equation we get x = 15 km
Ex 5: A boat takes 2.5 hours less to travel 100 km
downstream than to travel 75 km upstream. If the
speed of the current is 5 km/hr, find the speed of
the boat in still water.
Sol: Let the speed of the boat is 'x' km/hr. We have
75/(x – 5) - 100(x+5) = 5/2
 25(3(x + 5) - 4(x – 5) / x2 – 25) = 5/2
10(3x+15 - 4x+20) = x2 – 25
 10(35 - x) = x2 – 25  350 - 10x = x2 – 25
 x2 + 25x - 15x - 375 = 0  x(x+25) - 15(x+25) = 0
 (x+25) (x-15) = 0
x = 15 km/hr (Rejecting the negative value)
Races
A race is a competition in which the competitors have to
cover a given distance in the least time. A race may
involve running, riding, driving, sailing, rowing etc. The
ground or path on which a race takes place is called a
racecourse. The point from where a race starts is called

4
the starting point, and the winning point or goal is the
point where a race finishes.
Since Races and Games is a sub-topic of Time, Speed
and Distance, all the formulas of time, speed and
distance are applicable to Races and Games questions.
Some terminologies used in Races
A gives B a start of x meters: This statement implies that,
while A starts the race from starting point, whereas, B
starts x meters ahead of A. To cover a race of 100 meters
in this case, A will have to cover 100 meters while B will
have to cover only (100 - x).
A beats B by x meters: This statement implies that in the
same time, while A reached the winning point, whereas, B
is behind A by x m. To cover a race of 100 meters in this
case, A has covered 100 meters while B has covered only
(100 - x)
A can give B a start of t minutes: This statement implies
that A will start t minutes after B starts from the starting
point. Both A and B will reach the finishing point at the
same time.
A can give B x meters or t seconds: This statement
implies that A can give B either x meters or t seconds

5
from where you can find the speed of B as x/t meters per
second.
Dead Heat: A dead heat situation is when all participants
reach the finishing point at the same instant of time.
Circular Tracks
Circular tracks may involve two or three participants.
They usually start from the same point and run in the
same or opposite directions. Let the length of the track
by ‘d’ metres and if radius of circle is ‘r’(given) then
length of the track will be 2πr.
a) When two persons start from the same point and run
in opposite directions with speeds ‘x’ and ‘y’ m/s, the
following rules apply:
Their relative speed is equal to the sum of their individual
speeds.
Between any two meetings, the total distance covered by
them together is equal to the length of the circular track.
Time taken for the first meeting after starting = d/(x + y)
Time taken for them to meet at the starting point for the
first time = LCM of [(d/x) and (d/y)]

6
b) When two persons start from the same point and run
in the same direction with speeds ‘x’ and ‘y’ m/s (assume
x>y), the following rules apply:
Their relative speed is equal to the difference of their
individual speeds.
Between any two meetings, the faster participant covers
an extra distance equal to the length of the circular track
compared to the slower participant.
Time taken for the first meeting after starting = d/(x - y)
Time taken for them to meet at the starting point for the
first time = LCM of [(d/x) and (d/y)].
Ex 1: In a 400 meter race, A can give B a start of 370
meter and C a start of 333 meter. What start can B
give C?
Sol: When A runs 400 meter, B runs 370 meter.
When A runs 400 meter, C runs 333 meter.
i.e. when B runs 370 meter, C runs 333 meter.
Therefore, when B runs 400 meter, C runs
333  400
= 360 meter.
370
Or B can give C a start of 40 meter in a 400 meter
race.

7
Ex 2: A gives B a start of 20 meter in a 200-meter race
and B gives C a start of 27 meter in a 300 meter
race. How much start can A give C in a km race?
Sol: Race 1: Length 200 meter.
When A reaches 200 meter, B reaches 180 meter.
When A reaches 100 meter B reaches 90 meter.
Race 2: Length 300 meter.
When B reaches 300 meter, C reaches 273 meter 
When B reaches 100 meter, C reaches 91 meter.
Therefore, in a 100 meter race, when A finishes 100
90  91
meter C finishes = 81.9 meter.
100

In other words, A can give C a start of 18.1 meter in

a 100-meter race.
Therefore, in a kilometre race, A can give C a start
of 181 meters.
Ex 3: In a 50 m race, A can give a start of 5 m to B and a
start of 14 m to C. In the same race, how much
start can B give to C?
Sol: In the same time, A covers 50 m, B covers (50 – 5)
= 45 m, and C covers (50 – 14) = 36 m. If the race is
between B and C only, applying unitary method,

8
 when B runs 45 m, C runs 36 m. Hence, when B
runs 50 m, C runs (36/45 × 50 = 40). This means B
gives C a 10 m start.
Ex 4: In a 500 m race, A reaches the final point in 28 s
and B reaches in 35 s. By how much distance does
A beat B?
Sol: In this question, we have to find the distance
covered by B, after A has finished the race i.e.
distance covered by B in (35 – 28 = 7s).
Distance = 500/35 × 7 = 100 m. A beats B by 100
m.
Ex 5: A runs 4 times as fast as B. If A gives B a start of
60 m, how far must the goal on the race course be
so that A and B reach it at the same time?
Sol: Ratio of the speeds of A and B = 4:1.
In a race of 4 m, A gains 3 m over B.60 meters will
be gained by A in race of (4/3 × 60 = 80 m). Thus,
Winning post must be at a distance of 80 m from
the starting point.
Ex 6: In a 10 km race, A, B, and C, each running at
uniform speeds, get the gold, silver, and bronze
medals, respectively. If A beats B by 1 km and B

9
 beats C by 1 km, then by how many metres does A
beat C?
Sol: A beats B by 1 km, means A travels 10 km in the
same time that B travels 9 km. The ratio of speeds
of A and B is 10 : 9. Similarly, the ratio of speeds of
B and C is 10 : 9.
A : B = 10 : 9
B : C = 10 : 9
⇒ The ratio of speeds of A : B : C = 100 : 90 : 81
In the same time that A travels 100 m, C travels 81
metres ⇒ In the same time that A travels 10000 m,
C would travel 8100 m or A would beat C by 1900
m.
Ex 7: There is a track with a length of 120 meters and 2
people, A & B, are running around it at 12 m/min
and 20 m/min respectively in the same direction.
When will A and B meet at the starting point for the
first time?
Sol: The time of their meeting again at the starting
point will be the LCM of 120/12 & 120/20 i.e. 10 & 6
LCM of 10 and 6 = 30

10
 So, after 30 min, these people will be together at
the starting point.
Ex 8: There is a track with a length of 120 meters and 2
people, A & B, are running around it at 12 m/min
and 20 m/min respectively in the same direction.
When will B overtake A for the 1st time?
Sol: Time = d/(b-a)
Time of meeting = 120/(20 - 12) = 120/8 = 15min.
Ex 9: Two people P and Q start running towards a
circular track of length 400 m in opposite
directions with initial speeds of 10 m/s and 40 m/s
respectively. Whenever they meet, P's speed
doubles and Q's speed halves. After what time
from the start will they meet for the third time?
Sol: Time taken to meet for the 1st time=
400/(40+10)=8 sec.
Now P's speed = 20m/s and Q's speed=20 m/s.
Time taken to meet for the 2nd time= 400/(20+20)
= 10 sec.
Now P's speed =40 m/sec and Q's speed = 10
m/sec.

11
 Time taken to meet for the 3rd time=
400/(10+40)=8 sec.
Therefore, Total time= (8+10+8) = 26 seconds.
Ex 10: A and B start jogging in a circular park of
circumference 150 metre from the same point
simultaneously in the same direction. A jogs at a
speed of 36 kmph and B jogs at a speed of 90
kmph. When will they meet first time again and
when will they meet at the starting point?
Sol: Circumference of the park =150 metre.
Speed of A = 36 kmph = 36  5/18 = 10 m/sec
Speed of B = 90 kmph = 90  5/18 = 25 m/sec
They will meet again first time when B has covered
one full circle more than A. i.e. when their relative
speeds completed one full circle.
Their relative speed = 25 – 10 = 15 m/sec.
Time taken by them to meet first time = 150/15 =
10 sec.
Time taken by A to complete a round = 150/10 = 15
sec.

12
Time taken by B to complete a round = 150/25 = 6
sec.
Time taken by them to meet first time at the
starting point = LCM of (15,6) = 30 sec

13