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BANKERS TUTORIAL · IBPS & RRB · EXAM-PLANNING GUIDE

Study plan: Boats, current and still-water speed

Separate a boat’s still-water speed from the stream’s contribution, calculate upstream and downstream rates and use the stated constant-current model to recover unknown speeds from paired observations.

01 / 03Learn with a clear direction

2 min read Original learning material · Prepared 14 Oct 2026

This is an original preparation plan, not a new examination announcement. Check dates, stages, eligibility and application instructions in the issuing authority’s current notice.

01 / UNDERSTANDING

Plan your preparation

Practise direct speed construction before inverse problems. Add equal-distance travel-time comparisons later so the learner keeps the upstream and downstream durations tied to their correct rates.

02 / UNDERSTANDING

The concept in context

In a simplified constant-current model, downstream speed equals still-water boat speed plus stream speed, while upstream speed equals boat speed minus stream speed. Speeds must share units and upstream progress requires the boat’s still-water speed to exceed the current. Time still follows distance divided by the relevant ground speed.

03 / UNDERSTANDING

A worked learning case

Original educational case. An original boat moves at 10 km/h in still water while the stream is 2 km/h. It travels downstream at 12 km/h and upstream at 8 km/h. A 24-km trip takes two hours downstream but three hours upstream. The same distance has different travel times because the stream changes speed relative to the riverbank.

ORIGINAL EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE

Try it before you check.

Original practice: Downstream speed is 15 km/h and upstream speed is 9 km/h. What is the stream speed under the stated model?

Show the answer and reasoning

3 km/h.

Subtract the upstream equation from the downstream equation: the still-water speed cancels, leaving twice the stream speed. The difference is 15 − 9 = 6 km/h, so the stream speed is 3 km/h. The still-water speed is 12 km/h, and substituting confirms 12 + 3 = 15 and 12 − 3 = 9.

Two traps to watch for.

  • Using the full downstream-upstream difference as stream speed.
  • Applying the downstream speed to an upstream travel time.

YOUR TOPIC-SPECIFIC LEARNING MAP

Build your next study session

  1. Label boat speed and stream speed.

  2. Write both ground-speed equations.

  3. Substitute recovered values as a check.

Explain the idea, apply it to a new situation, then check what changed in your reasoning.

BANKERS TUTORIAL · SOURCE NOTES

Keep the source alongside your notes.

Official links provide subject context and authoritative reference material. This guide’s explanation, scenario and question are original Bankers Tutorial learning content.

  1. www.ibps.in https://www.ibps.in/
  2. www.ibps.in https://www.ibps.in/index.php/faq/

For IBPS & RRB preparation, check the current official notice before relying on changing dates, rules or examination requirements.

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