IBPS Clerk Boats & Streams — Study Material, 11 PYQs & Practice MCQs | ZestExam
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IBPS Clerk Boats & Streams
Study Material — 11 PYQs (2022–2022) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts
IBPS Clerk Boats & Streams is a frequently tested subtopic — 11 previous year questions from 2022–2022 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.
A boat travels 48 km downstream in 3 hours. If the speed of the stream is 2 km/h, what is the speed of the boat in still water?
Exam Q 32022Previous Year Pattern
A man can row 36 km downstream in 4 hours and 32 km upstream in 8 hours. What is the speed of the stream?
Exam Q 42022Previous Year Pattern
A boat takes 5 hours to travel 60 km downstream. If the boat's speed in still water is 11 km/h, what is the speed of the stream?
Exam Q 52022Previous Year Pattern
A boat travels 80 km upstream in 10 hours. If the stream's speed is 2 km/h, what is the boat's speed in still water?
Exam Q 62022Previous Year Pattern
A boatman rows 24 km downstream and 16 km upstream, taking 4 hours for the entire journey. If the stream's speed is 2 km/h, what is the boat's speed in still water?
Exam Q 72022Previous Year Pattern
A boat travels 48 km downstream in 3 hours and 48 km upstream in 6 hours. What is the speed of the boat in still water?
Exam Q 82022Previous Year Pattern
The speed of a boat in still water is 15 km/h and the speed of the stream is 3 km/h. How much time will the boat take to travel 72 km downstream and then return to the starting point?
Exam Q 92022Previous Year Pattern
A boat can travel 35 km upstream in 5 hours. If the speed of the stream is 2 km/h, what is the speed of the boat in still water?
Exam Q 102022Previous Year Pattern
A boat's speed in still water is 20 km/h. It travels 60 km downstream and 40 km upstream, taking a total of 5 hours. What is the speed of the stream?
Exam Q 112022Previous Year Pattern
A man can row a boat at 8 km/h in still water. He rows upstream for 2 hours and then downstream for 1.5 hours. If the total distance covered is 20 km, what is the speed of the stream?
Concept Notes
Boats & Streams— Rules & Concept
Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic
Core Concept
Imagine walking on a moving escalator. If you walk in the same direction as the escalator, you move faster. If you walk against it, you move slower. Similarly, water current helps or hinders boat movement
Key Rules
Speed of boat in still water = (Downstream speed + Upstream speed) ÷ 2. Speed of current = (Downstream speed - Upstream speed) ÷ 2. Downstream speed = Boat speed + Stream speed. Upstream speed = Boat speed - Stream speed.
Formula BlockMemorise — at least one formula appears in every paper
• Downstream Speed = Speed in still water + Speed of stream
• Upstream Speed = Speed in still water - Speed of stream
• Speed in still water = (Downstream + Upstream) ÷ 2
• Speed of stream = (Downstream - Upstream) ÷ 2
• Time = Distance ÷ Speed
Exam PatternsWhat examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
Questions typically ask for boat speed in still water, stream speed, time calculations, or distance problems. Common formats include round trips, meeting point problems, and comparative speed questions.
ShortcutsUse these to save 30–60 seconds per question
When distance is same upstream and downstream, use the harmonic mean formula: Average speed = (2 × Downstream speed × Upstream speed) ÷ (Downstream speed + Upstream speed).
Worked ExampleSolve this step-by-step before moving on
Apply formulas
Boat speed in still water = (10 + 4) ÷ 2 = 7 km/hr
Stream speed = (10 - 4) ÷ 2 = 3 km/hr
Worked Example 2: A man can row 6 km/hr in still water. Stream speed is 2 km/hr. How long to travel 16 km downstream and return?
Calculate times
Time downstream = 16 ÷ 8 = 2 hours
Time upstream = 16 ÷ 4 = 4 hours
Total time = 2 + 4 = 6 hours
Trick for Round Trips: Total time = Distance × 2 × Boat speed ÷ (Boat speed² - Stream speed²)
Exam TrapsCommon mistakes students make — avoid these
Students often confuse downstream and upstream directions. Remember: downstream means 'with the flow' (faster), upstream means 'against the flow' (slower). Another trap is adding stream speed when calculating upstream speed instead of subtracting it.
Always check if your downstream speed is greater than upstream speed.