A man can row at 10 km/h in still water. If he takes total 5 h to go to a place 24 km away and return, then the speed of the water current is?

Let speed of water current be x km/h ∴ Speed downstream = (10 + x) km/h. Speed upstream = (10 - x) km/h According to the question, 24/(10 + x) + 24/(10 - x) = 5 ⇒ 24[10 - x + 10 + x] = 5(10² - x²) ⇒ 100 - x² = (24 x 20) / 5 ⇒ 100 - x² = 96 ⇒ x² = 4 ⇒ x = √4 = 2km/h