IBA Extra

Question 1: The light at Shahbagh signal flashed every 120 seconds. The lights at Green Road and Bata
signal flash every 60and 90 seconds. All three lights flash at 8 :30.

1. When will they flash again simultaneously?

2. How many times will two lights flash before three lights flash together again?

Solution:
1. LCM of 120 , 60 , and 90 is 360. So, the three lights will flash together again every 360 seconds, or
every 6 minutes. Which means, at 8:36, all three lights will flash together again.
2. The LCM of 120 and 60 is 120. Light at Shahbagh and Green Road signal will flash every 120

seconds. Within the next 6 minutes, they will flash ( 360

120 )
or, 3׿, at 120 seconds (2 minutes ), 240

seconds (4 minutes ), and 360seconds (6 m inutes).

The LCM of 120 and 90 is 360, so the lights at Shahbagh and Bata signal will flash every 360seconds.
Within the next 6 minutes, they will flash 1 time.
The LCM of 60 and 90 is 180 , so the lights at Green Road and Bata will flash every 180seconds.
Within the next 6 minutes, they will flash 2times, at 180 seconds (3 minutes ) and 360 seconds (
6 minutes ).
Thus, in the 6-minute period, two lights will flash 3 + 1 + 2 = 6 times. However, we cannot count
the flashing of all three lights at 360 seconds, as this does not satisfy the event “EXACTLY TWO
light’s flash.” Since this event was counted 3 times, our final answer must be (6 – 3) = 3.

Question 2: Three lamps A, B, and C flash every 20, 45 , and 120seconds, respectively. The three lamps
start flashing together. How many times will the three lamps flash together within one hour?
Solution: LCM of 20 , 45 , and 12 0is 360. So, the three lights will flash together again every 360
seconds, or every 6 minutes. Now, 1 hour = 60 minutes. Therefore, they will flash (60/6) or, 10
times together in one hour.