Problems on Trains

Average
Dr R. K. Das, EIILM, Kolkata
 Formulas (Problems on Train)
• km/hr to m/s conversion:
a km/hr =

a m/s =
• Time taken by a train to pass a pole or a
standing man or a signal post is equal to the
time taken by the train to cover its own length.
• Time taken by a train of length l metres to pass
a stationery object of length b metres is the
time taken by the train to cover (l + b) metres.
• Suppose two trains or two objects are moving in
the same direction at u m/s and v m/s,
where u > v, then their relative speed is = (u - v)
m/s.
• Suppose two trains or two objects are moving in
opposite directions at u m/s and v m/s, then
their relative speed is = (u + v) m/s.
• If two trains of length a metres and b metres are
moving in opposite directions at u m/s
and v m/s, then the time taken by the trains to
cross each other =
• If two trains of length a metres and b metres are
moving in the same direction at u m/s and v m/s,
then the time taken by the faster train to cross
the slower train =

• If two trains (or bodies) start at the same time

from points A and B towards each other and after
crossing they take a and b sec in reaching B and
A respectively, then:
(A's speed) : (B's speed) = (b : a)
 Problems
1. A train running at the speed of 60 km/hr
crosses a pole in 9 seconds. What is the length
of the train?
A.120 metres
B.180 metres
C.324 metres
D.150 metres
 Solution
• Speed = [60 x(5/18)]m/sec = (50/3) m/sec.
• Length of the train = (Speed x Time).
• Length of the train = (50/3)x 9 m = 150 m.
2. A train 125 m long passes a man, running at 5
km/hr in the same direction in which the train
is going, in 10 seconds. The speed of the train
is:
• A.45 km/hr
• B.50 km/hr
• C.54 km/hr
• D.55 km/hr
 Solution
• Speed of the train relative to man =(125/10)
m/sec
• =(25 /2) m/sec
• = (25/2)x(18/5) km/hr
• = 45 km/hr.
Let the speed of the train be x km/hr. Then, relative
speed = (x - 5) km/hr.
So, x - 5 = 45  x = 50 km/hr.
3. The length of the bridge, which a train 130
metres long and travelling at 45 km/hr can
cross in 30 seconds, is:
• A.200 m
• B.225 m
• C.245 m
• D.250 m
 Solution
• Speed =45 x (5/18)m/sec = 25/2 m/sec
• Time = 30 sec.
• Let the length of bridge be x metres.
• Then, (130 + x)/30 =25/2
2(130 + x) = 750
 x = 245 m.
4. Two trains running in opposite directions
cross a man standing on the platform in 27
seconds and 17 seconds respectively and they
cross each other in 23 seconds. The ratio of
their speeds is:
• A.1 : 3
• B.3 : 2
• C.3 : 4
• D. None of these
 Solution
• Let the speeds of the two trains be x m/sec
and y m/sec respectively.
• Then, length of the first train = 27x metres,
• and length of the second train = 17y metres.
So, (27x + 17y) / (x+y) = 23
27x + 17y = 23x + 23y
 4x = 6y
 x / y= 3/2  x : y = 3: 2
5. A train passes a station platform in 36 seconds
and a man standing on the platform in 20
seconds. If the speed of the train is 54 km/hr,
what is the length of the platform?
• A.120 m
• B.240 m
• C.300 m
• D. None of these

Ans. 240 m
6. Two trains of equal length are running on
parallel lines in the same direction at 46 km/hr
and 36 km/hr. The faster train passes the
slower train in 36 seconds. The length of each
train is:
• A.50 m
• B.72 m
• C.80 m
• D.82 m

Ans. 50 m
 Hint.
• Let the length of each train be x metres.
• Then, total distance covered by the faster train
= 2x metres.
• Relative speed = (46 - 36) km/hr = 10 km/hr
• Convert the speed in m/sec
• Then set the equation
7. Two trains are moving in opposite directions
@ 60 km/hr and 90 km/hr. Their lengths are
1.10 km and 0.9 km respectively. The time
taken by the slower train to cross the faster
train in seconds is:
• A.36
• B.45
• C.48
• D.49

Ans. 48 sec
8. A jogger running at 9 kmph alongside a
railway track in 240 metres ahead of the
engine of a 120 metres long train running at
45 kmph in the same direction. In how much
time will the train pass the jogger?
• A.3.6 sec
• B.18 sec
• C.36 sec
• D.72 sec

Ans. 36 sec
 Hint
• Speed of train relative to jogger = (45 - 9)
km/hr = 36 km/hr.
• Convert the speed in m/s
• Find out the total distance to be covered by
the train.
• Set the equation and solve.
9. A 270 metres long train running at the speed
of 120 kmph crosses another train running in
opposite direction at the speed of 80 kmph in
9 seconds. What is the length of the other
train?
• A.230 m
• B.240 m
• C.260 m
• D.320 m
• E. None of these
Ans. 230 m
10. Two trains, each 100 m long, moving in
opposite directions, cross each other in 8
seconds. If one is moving twice as fast the
other, then the speed of the faster train is:
• A.30 km/hr
• B.45 km/hr
• C.60 km/hr
• D.75 km/hr

Ans. 60 kmph
 Formulas (Average)
• Average = (Sum of observations)/ (Number of
observations)
• Average Speed:
Suppose a man covers a certain distance
at x kmph and an equal distance at y kmph.
Then, the average speed during the whole
journey is 2xy/(x + y) kmph.
 Problems
1. A family consists of two grandparents, two
parents and three grandchildren. The average
age of the grandparents is 67 years, that of the
parents is 35 years and that of the grandchildren
is 6 years. What is the average age of the family?
• A.28 (4/7)years
• B.31 (5/7) years
• C.32 (1/7) years
• D. None of these
Ans. B
2. A grocer has a sale of Rs. 6435, Rs. 6927, Rs.
6855, Rs. 7230 and Rs. 6562 for 5 consecutive
months. How much sale must he have in the
sixth month so that he gets an average sale of
Rs. 6500?
• A.Rs. 4991
• B.Rs. 5991
• C.Rs. 6001
• D.Rs. 6991 Ans. A
3. The average of 20 numbers is zero. Of them,
at the most, how many may be greater than
zero?
• A.0
• B.1
• C.10
• D.19

Ans. D
4. The captain of a cricket team of 11 members
is 26 years old and the wicket keeper is 3 years
older. If the ages of these two are excluded,
the average age of the remaining players is
one year less than the average age of the
whole team. What is the average age of the
team?
• A.23 years
• B.24 years
• C.25 years
• D. None of these
Ans. A
5. The average monthly income of P and Q is Rs.
5050. The average monthly income of Q and R
is Rs. 6250 and the average monthly income of
P and R is Rs. 5200. The monthly income of P is:
• A.3500
• B.4000
• C.4050
• D.5000
Ans. B
6. A car owner buys petrol at Rs.7.50, Rs. 8 and
Rs. 8.50 per litre for three successive years.
What approximately is the average cost per
litre of petrol if he spends Rs. 4000 each year?
• A.Rs. 7.98
• B.Rs. 8
• C.Rs. 8.50
• D.Rs. 9
Ans. A
7. In Arun's opinion, his weight is greater than 65 kg
but less than 72 kg. His brother doest not agree
with Arun and he thinks that Arun's weight is
greater than 60 kg but less than 70 kg. His
mother's view is that his weight cannot be greater
than 68 kg. If all are them are correct in their
estimation, what is the average of different
probable weights of Arun?
• A.67 kg.
• B.68 kg.
• C.69 kg.
• D. Data inadequate
• E. None of these
 Solution
• Let Arun's weight by X kg.
• According to Arun, 65 < X < 72
• According to Arun's brother, 60 < X < 70.
• According to Arun's mother, X <= 68
• The values satisfying all the above conditions
are 66, 67 and 68.
• So, the required average = ( 66+67+68)/3 = 67
8. The average weight of A, B and C is 45 kg. If
the average weight of A and B be 40 kg and
that of B and C be 43 kg, then the weight of B
is:
• A.17 kg
• B.20 kg
• C.26 kg
• D.31 kg
 Solution
• Let A, B, C represent their respective weights.
Then, we have:
• A + B + C = (45 x 3) = 135 .... (i)
• A + B = (40 x 2) = 80 .... (ii)
• B + C = (43 x 2) = 86 ....(iii)
• Adding (ii) and (iii), we get: A + 2B + C = 166 .... (iv)
• Subtracting (i) from (iv), we get : B = 31.
• B's weight = 31 kg.
9. A library has an average of 510 visitors on
Sundays and 240 on other days. The average
number of visitors per day in a month of 30
days beginning with a Sunday is:
• A.250
• B.276
• C.280
• D.285.
Ans. D
10. A student's marks were wrongly entered as
83 instead of 63. Due to that the average
marks for the class got increased by half (1/2).
The number of pupils in the class is:
• A.10
• B.20
• C.40
• D.73
Ans. C