CMA Foundation · Fundamentals of Business Mathematics and Statistics · Time and Distance
Two trains of lengths 120 m and 180 m run on parallel tracks in the same direction. The faster train takes 60 seconds to completely overtake the slower one. If the slower train runs at 36 km/h, what is the speed of the faster train?
The faster train runs at 54 km/h. To overtake completely it must gain 120 + 180 = 300 m on the slower train in 60 seconds, a relative speed of 5 m/s or 18 km/h. Adding this to the slower train's 36 km/h gives 54 km/h.
- A54 km/hCorrect
- B48 km/h
- C45 km/h
- D60 km/h
Explanation
Distance to be covered in overtaking = 120 + 180 = 300 m in 60 s, so relative speed = 5 m/s = 5 × 18/5 = 18 km/h. Faster train speed = 36 + 18 = 54 km/h. The option 18 km/h less than 36 (i.e., 18) is not offered, and 45 km/h arises from wrongly using only 180 m as the distance.
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