When did the canoe leave?

What this river-current puzzle tests

This is a medium-difficulty word puzzle that appears in quant interview settings to assess how systematically a candidate can set up equations under constraints. The scenario involves relative motion, constant rates, and time—staples of both physics-based reasoning and logic puzzles common in trading and quantitative roles.

To solve problems of this type, you need to distinguish between absolute velocity (speed over ground) and velocity relative to the water, then use the given journey times and distances to set up a solvable system. The key is tracking what each parameter means and ensuring your equations are consistent across all three legs of the trip.

• Relative velocity and frames of reference
• Constant-rate motion constraints
• Back-solving from arrival time and known distances