A Train Crosses a Bridge of Length 500 m in 40 Seconds And a Lamp Post GMAT Problem Solving

Question: A train crosses a bridge of length 500 m in 40 seconds and a lamp post on the bridge in 15 seconds. What is the length of the train in metres?

  1. 375 m
  2. 750 m
  3. 250 m
  4. 800 m
  5. 300 m

‘A train crosses a bridge of length 500 m in 40 seconds and a lamp post on the bridge in 15 seconds’ is a topic of the GMAT Quantitative reasoning section of GMAT. This question has been taken from the book “GMAT Official Guide Quantitative Review”.
To solve GMAT Problem Solving questions a student must have knowledge about a good amount of qualitative skills. The GMAT Quant topic in the problem-solving part requires calculative mathematical problems that should be solved with proper mathematical knowledge.

Solution and Explanation

Approach Solution 1:

Given:

  • A train crosses a bridge of length 500 m in 40 seconds
  • The train crosses a lamp post on the bridge in 15 seconds.

Find Out:

  • What is the length of the train in metres

Let us consider that the Length of Train = L
Case-1 (Bridge)
Distance = 500+L (While crossing the bridge)
Time = 40 Seconds
i.e. Speed = Distance / Time
= (500+L)/40
Case-2 (Lamp Post)
Distance = L (While passing the lamp post)
Time = 15 Seconds
i.e. Speed = Distance / Time
= (L)/15
But Since speed has to be same in both cases so, the speed of crossing lamp posi is equal to speed of crossing bridge.
Hence, we get:
(500+L)/40 = (L)/15
i.e. 8L = 3L + 1500
i.e. 5L = 1500
i.e. L = 300
Hence, the correct option is E.

Correct Answer: E
Approach Solution 2:

Given:

  • A train crosses a bridge of length 500 m in 40 seconds
  • The train crosses a lamp post on the bridge in 15 seconds.

Find Out:

  • What is the length of the train in metres

Let the Length of train=LT
Let the Speed of train=VT
Time taken =(Length of train +Length of Bridge)/Speed of Train
40=(LT+500)VT
And, LT/VT=15
Let us now Put LT/VT=15 in the first equation,
15+500/VT=40
VT=20
Using value of VT=20, LT=300M
Hence, E is the correct answer.

Correct Answer: E

Approach Solution 3:

Let Length of Train be L
Let the first case be Distance be 500+L (While crossing the bridge)
Time = 40 Seconds
So, Speed = Distance / Time = (500+L)/40

Let the second case be Distance be L (While passing the lamp post)
Time = 15 Seconds
So, Speed = Distance / Time = (L)/15
Since speed has to be same in both cases so equating both the cases:
(500+L)/40 = (L)/15
that implies 8L = 3L + 1500
that implies 5L = 1500
that implies L = 300

Correct Answer: E

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