Study Material — 14 PYQs (2022–2022) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts
SBI Clerk Boats & Streams is a frequently tested subtopic — 14 previous year questions from 2022–2022 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.
A man can row 36 km downstream in 4 hours. The speed of the current is 1.5 km/h. What is his speed upstream?
Exam Q 42022Previous Year Pattern
A boat takes 5 hours to travel 80 km upstream and 4 hours to travel the same distance downstream. What is the speed of the stream?
Exam Q 52022Previous Year Pattern
The speed of a boat in still water is 12 km/h. If it takes 6 hours to travel 60 km upstream, what is the speed of the stream?
Exam Q 62022Previous Year Pattern
A boat covers 72 km downstream in 6 hours and 60 km upstream in 6 hours. What is the speed of the boat 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 long will it take the boat to travel 72 km downstream and then return to the starting point?
Exam Q 92022Previous Year Pattern
A man can row 30 km downstream in 5 hours. If the stream's speed is 2 km/h, what is the speed of the man in still water?
Exam Q 102022Previous Year Pattern
A boat takes 4 hours to travel 60 km upstream. If the boat's speed in still water is 18 km/h, what is the speed of the stream?
Exam Q 112022Previous Year Pattern
A boat covers 84 km downstream in 6 hours and the same distance upstream in 7 hours. What is the speed of the stream?
Exam Q 122022Previous Year Pattern
A boatman can row 24 km downstream in 2 hours. The ratio of his speed in still water to the stream's speed is 3:1. If he rows upstream for 3 hours and then downstream for 2 hours, what is the total distance covered?
Exam Q 132022Previous Year Pattern
A boat can travel 120 km downstream in the same time it takes to travel 80 km upstream. The boat's speed in still water is 25 km/h. What is the speed of the stream?
Exam Q 142022Previous Year Pattern
A boat travels 48 km downstream in 3 hours and 48 km upstream in 6 hours. A man swims at a constant speed in still water. If the man swims the same 48 km downstream, how long will it take him if his swimming speed is half the boat's speed in still water?
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.