UPSTREAM-DOWNSTREAM

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 279
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 5:43 pm
Thanked: 15 times
Followed by:1 members

UPSTREAM-DOWNSTREAM

by mehrasa » Sun Sep 25, 2011 12:11 am
In a given river, the current is 6 mph. A certain riverboat can travel 18 mph in still water. How far upstream (against the current) can the boat travel if a round trip is to take 10 hours?

A) 24

B) 48

C) 60

D) 80

E) 96

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 504
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2011 1:40 pm
Thanked: 114 times
Followed by:11 members

by knight247 » Sun Sep 25, 2011 12:22 am
Upstream speed=12mph ....(18-6)
Downstream speed=24 mph .....(18+6)

The distance traveled in the upstream journey is the same as the distance traveled in the downstream journey.

Upstream travel time = Distance/12
Downstream travel time = Distance/24


Upstream travel time+Downstream travel time=10 hrs so we have

Distance/12+Distance/24=10

Distance=80 Hence D

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 34
Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2011 4:15 am
Thanked: 1 times
Followed by:1 members

by ntamhane » Sun Sep 25, 2011 3:10 am
D it is

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Sun Sep 25, 2011 4:12 am
mehrasa wrote:In a given river, the current is 6 mph. A certain riverboat can travel 18 mph in still water. How far upstream (against the current) can the boat travel if a round trip is to take 10 hours?

A) 24

B) 48

C) 60

D) 80

E) 96
Rate upstream = 18-6 = 12 miles per hour.
Rate downstream = 18+6 = 24 miles per hour.

We can plug in the answers, which represent the distance.

Answer choice C: 60 miles.
Time upstream = 60/12 = 5 hours.
Time downstream = 60/24 = 15/6 hours.
Total time = 5 + 15/6 = 45/6 = 7.5 hours.

The time needs to increase by 1/3:
7.5 + (1/3)(7.5) = 10.
Thus, the distance must increase by 1/3:
60 + (1/3)60 = 80.

The correct answer is D.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3