Question:medium

Two persons are walking beside a railway track at respective speeds of 2 and 4 km per hour in the same direction. A train came from behind them and crossed them in 90 and 100 seconds, respectively. The time, in seconds, taken by the train to cross an electric post is nearest to

Updated On: Jan 15, 2026
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

The correct option is (B): \(82\)

Let the length of the train be \(l\) meters and its speed be \(s\) km/h.

Given the time taken to cross a platform of length \(p_1\) and a platform of length \(p_2\) at speeds \((s-2)\) km/h and \((s-4)\) km/h respectively:

\[ \frac{l}{((s - 2) \times \frac{5}{18})} = 90 \text{ sec}, \quad \frac{l}{((s - 4) \times \frac{5}{18})} = 100 \text{ sec} \]

From these equations, we can express the length \(l\):

\[ l = 90(s - 2) \times \frac{5}{18} \] \[ l = 100(s - 4) \times \frac{5}{18} \]

Equating both expressions for \(l\):

\[ 90(s - 2) \times \frac{5}{18} = 100(s - 4) \times \frac{5}{18} \] \[ \Rightarrow 90(s - 2) = 100(s - 4) \] \[ \Rightarrow 90s - 180 = 100s - 400 \] \[ \Rightarrow 100s - 90s = 400 - 180 \] \[ \Rightarrow 10s = 220 \] \[ \Rightarrow s = 22 \text{ km/h} \]

∴ Length of the train:

Substitute \(s = 22\) km/h into the first equation for \(l\):

\[ l = 90(22 - 2) \times \frac{5}{18} = 90 \times 20 \times \frac{5}{18} = 500 \text{ m} \]

Time to cross a lamp post:

The speed of the train is \(22\) km/h, which is \(22 \times \frac{5}{18}\) m/s.

The time taken to cross a stationary object like a lamp post is the length of the train divided by its speed in m/s:

\[ \text{Time} = \frac{\text{Length of train}}{\text{Speed of train}} = \frac{500 \text{ m}}{22 \times \frac{5}{18} \text{ m/s}} = \frac{500 \times 18}{22 \times 5} = \frac{500 \times 18}{110} = \frac{9000}{110} \approx 81.81 \text{ sec} \]

Rounding to the nearest whole number, the time taken is approximately \( \boxed{82 \text{ sec}} \).

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