Aptitude - Problems on Trains - Discussion

Discussion Forum : Problems on Trains - General Questions (Q.No. 18)
18.
A 300 metre long train crosses a platform in 39 seconds while it crosses a signal pole in 18 seconds. What is the length of the platform?
320 m
350 m
650 m
Data inadequate
Answer: Option
Explanation:

Speed = ( 300 ( m/sec = 50 m/sec.
18 3

Let the length of the platform be x metres.

Then, ( x + 300 ( = 50
39 3

=> 3(x + 300) = 1950

=> x = 350 m.

Discussion:
39 comments Page 4 of 4.

Sushma said:   1 decade ago
Hey why should we want to use x+300 here?

Dj G said:   1 decade ago
The reason this question doesn't have an answer to me is because of the wording if the train has to cross the platform shouldn't the length of the train Be a factor? Because the train has to travel more meters than the platform to actually cross it and the question don't seem to account for that.

Koushik roy said:   1 decade ago
For the case 1,where you told " to find the speed of the train we need length-of-the-train + length-of-the-platform. But, here the length of the platform not given, we have to find it actually.", I can assume that it will b x..i.e

(x+300)/18 = 100/13.

I can't understand why you find out 300/18. Please sir elaborate it.

Mahesh said:   1 decade ago
Length of the train is 330m.

So if the train cross the pole it take 18sec.

So we find speed of it.

Speed=300/18=50/3.

Total time is 39sec.

But we want only length of platform.

i.e., 39-18=21.

Finally length of it =50/3*21.

=350m.

Shro said:   1 decade ago
@Sundar
Question specifies 300m long train.
So the length of the train is 300m.

The link which u gave there we were supposed to find the length of the train so we followed that method.

But,here the length of the train is already given as 300m.

Umesh said:   1 decade ago
Friends .

Shortcut:

speed =300/18=50/3m/sec
extra time taken to cross the platform=39-18=21
50/3*21=350m the length of platform

Sundar said:   1 decade ago
@Atique

We cannot take 300/39 to find the speed of the train.

Because,

Case-1:

39 seconds is the time taken by train to cross a platform. With this information, to find the speed of the train we need length-of-the-train + length-of-the-platform. But, here the length of the platform not given, we have to find it actually.

Case-2:

18 seconds is the time taken by train to cross a single pole. With this information, to find the speed of the train we need length-of-the-train only (length-of-the-pole is negligible, because it is a single point). So with this 18 sec and 300m we can find the speed of the train.

How to find the speed of the train?

Speed = Distance/Time

Given Info:
Distance = 300 m.
Time = 18 sec (to cross a single pole).

Therefore,

Speed = 300m/18sec = 50/3 m/sec.

Take a look at this page:
http://www.indiabix.com/aptitude/problems-on-trains/discussion-454

Hope this will help you. Have a nice day!

Anitha A said:   1 decade ago
HI..friends...As per my knowledge....39sec is the time that crosses the platform. whereas 18sec is the time that crosses the signal. Here 300/18 is the speed.i.e the relative speed.But 300/39 is the total time that taken to cross the platform. By this 39sec we have to find out the total length of the platform by using the total time taken to cross the platform.Thats why u have to take 300/18 instead of 300/39.

Atique said:   1 decade ago
Why should I take 300/18 ? Why shouldn't I take 300/39 ?

Please give explanation.


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