A steamer goes downstream from one point another in 9 hours. It covers the same distance upstream in 10 hours. If the speed of the stream be 1 km/hr, find the speed of the steamer in still water and the distance between the ports.

Let the speed of steamer = x km/hr
Speed of stream = 1 km/hr
Downstream speed = (x + 1) km/hr
Upstream speed = (x – 1) km/hr
Distance = speed × time
9 (x + 1) = 10 (x – 1)
9 x + 9 = 10 x – 10
x = 10 + 9 = 19 km/hr


Therefore speed of the steamer is 19 km/hr
Distance travelled = 9(x + 1) = 9 × 20 = 180 km.


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