[Aptitude Q] STD table : Application in train man bridge, time and work problems

1. Conversion : kmph vs ms
2. Finding length of train
1. Case: Train, Man and Bridge
2. Case: Time n Work : A and B
Not really an article, just solving some readers queries to keep the STD concept
refreshed.
Case: Train, Man and Bridge
A man is standing on a 180m long bridge.He finds that a train crosses the bridge in
20 seconds but himself in 8 seconds. Find the length of the train and its speed.
Approach:
When train crosses the bridge When train crosses the man
Total distance= length of train + width of bridge length of train + width of bridge
m+180 m+0
Because in comparison to train, man / telephone wire / bike-rider etc are
considered zero in width.
Now make table
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Now make table
Train + bridge Train + man
Speed s s
Time 20 8
Distance M+180 M
Now apply STD formula and you get two equations
Train + bridge Train + man
Speed s s
Time 20 8
Distance M+180 M
Speed X time = Distance S x 20 = (M+180) S x 8 =M
Just solve those two equations
20s=M+180.(i)
8s=M.(ii)
So in first equation, replace the value of M=8s
20s=8s+180
20s-8s=180
12s=180
S=180/12
S=15 m/s. thats our final answer. But suppose, in the answer options, the speed
is given in in km/h, then you need to convert m/s into km/h.
Conversion : kmph vs ms
1km =1000 meters.
1 hr = 60 minutes = 60 x 60 seconds = 3600 seconds.
Therefore, 1 km / hr = 1000m / 3600 seconds
1km / hr = 5 / 18 (m/s)
In otherwords,
1 meter per second = 18 / 5 kmph.
So 15 (m/s) = 15 x (18/5) km/h = 54 kmph. Thats our final answer.
Finding length of train
Moving to the next part: find the length of this train.
From the second equation, we know that
S x 8 =M
And weve found that speed of train= 15m/s.
hence 15 x 8 =m
m=120meters.
Answer: length of train is 120 meters.
Case: Time n Work : A and B
Question: A can do a piece of work in 80 days. He works at it for 10 days and then
B alone finishes the remaining work in 42 days. In how much time will A and B
together finish the work?
Make table
A B
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A B
Speed a b
Time 80 b
Distance = speed x time a x 10=80a
It means total distance to be covered, is 80a.
A works for 10 days
A B A works
Speed a b a
Time 80 10
Distance = speed x time a x 10=80a 10 x a =10a
See the last column. A covered distance of 10a, meaning
So 80a-10a=70a distance is yet to be covered.
Now B comes and finishes this in 42 days
A B A works B finishes
Speed a b a b
Time 80 10 42
Distance = speed x
time
a x 10=
80a
a x 10 =10a.
(meaning 70a remains).
b x 42
= 42b
That means 42b=70a (because remaining work =70a and B finished this.)
b=(70/42)a
Therefore, b=5a/3
Now if A+B worked together then, we can add their speed. And together theyve
to finish 80a distance
Update the table
A B A works B finishes A+B
together
Speed a b=5a/3 a b a+5a/3=
8a/3
Time 80 10 42 T
Distance = speed x
time
a x 10=
80a
a x 10 =10a. (so 70a work
remains).
b x 42=
42b
80a
Apply STD in last column
Speed x time = distance
8a/3 x T =80a
Therefore T= 30 days.
Final answer: if A and B work together, itll take them 30 days to finish the job.
Pasted from <http://mrunal.org/2013/02/aptitude-q-std-table-application-in-train-man-bridge-time-and-work-
problems.html>
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