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=>

Suppose the speed of the ship is x miles/hr.
Then \(\frac{20}{(x+2)} = 2,\) and \(x = 8.\)

The time to taken to travel \(18\) miles upstream is \(\frac{18}{(8-2)} = \frac{18}{6} = 3 hours.\)

Therefore, the answer is D.
Answer: D
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[GMAT math practice question]

It takes 2 hours to travel 20 miles downstream on a cruise ship that travels at a constant speed along a river flowing at a speed of 2 miles per hour. How long will it take for the cruise ship to travel 18 miles upstream on this river?

A. 1 h 30 min
B. 2 h
C. 2 h 30 min
D. 3 h
E. 3 h 30min

Let v be the speed of the cruise ship
v+2 = 20/2 =10
v=8

Time taken to travel 18 miles upstream = 18/ (8-2) = 18/6 = 3 hours

IMO D

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Can someone kindly explain why we can't take 20 miles / 2 hours = 10 miles per hour to be the speed of ship?
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It takes 2 hours to travel 20 miles downstream on a cruise ship that travels at a constant speed along a river flowing at a speed of 2 miles per hour. How long will it take for the cruise ship to travel 18 miles upstream on this river?

=>Downstream speed = speed of boat + speed of river = x + 2
=>20/2 = x + 2
=>10 = x +2
=> x = 8

Time taken to travel 18 miles upstream = Distance / Upstream speed = 18/(8-2)=18/6=3 hours

Hence D
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Can someone kindly explain why we can't take 20 miles / 2 hours = 10 miles per hour to be the speed of ship?

We can't take the speed of the boat 10 mph, because it is not the actual speed of the boat. The speed of the boat observed from the ground(any stationary object) will be equal to the actual speed + speed of the stream, this is a concept of relative velocity.
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