Subject

    Quantitative Aptitude

    Topic

    Speed & Distance

    A train covers a distance from station A to station B at the speed of 58 kmph and covers the distance from station B to station A at the speed of 52 kmph. What is the approximate average speed of the train?

    ক)
    54kmph
    খ)
    58kmph
    গ)
    48kmph
    ঘ)
    52kmph
    ঙ)
    64kmph

    Explanation

    Distance from station A to station B = x km (say) The train covers the distance from station A to station B at the speed of 58 kmph At this speed, the train covers x km in (x/58) hours. Similarly, the train covers station B to station A in (x/52)hours Hence, the train covers 2x km distance in [(x/58)+(x/52)]hours [(x/58)+(x/52)] = 0.036x In 0.036x hours the train goes 2x km In 1 hour the train goes 2x/0.036x = 54 km (approximately) SHORT TRICK: The average of two speeds over equal distances is obtained using their harmonic means: 2  ×  58  ×  5258+52=58×5255=54.83\frac{{2{\rm{\;}} \times {\rm{\;}}58{\rm{\;}} \times {\rm{\;}}52}}{{58 + 52}} = \frac{{58 \times 52}}{{55}} = 54.83 ≈54kmph≈ 54kmph

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