A man can row 7.5 kmph in still water and he finds that it takes him twice as long to row up as to row down the river. Find the rate of stream.
Given that, time taken to travel upstream = 2 × time taken to travel downstream
When distance is constant, speed is inversely proportional to the time
Hence, 2 × speed upstream = speed downstream
Let speed upstream $=x$
Then speed downstream $=2x$
we have, $\dfrac{1}{2}(x + 2x)$ = speed in still water
$\Rightarrow \dfrac{1}{2}(3x) = 7.5$
$\Rightarrow 3x = 15$
$\Rightarrow x = 5$
i.e., speed upstream = 5 km/hr
Rate of stream $=\dfrac{1}{2}(2x-x) = \dfrac{x}{2}= \dfrac{5}{2} = 2.5\text{ km/hr}$