A train covers a distance of 10 km in 12 minutes. If its speed is decreased by 5 km/hr, the time taken by it to cover the same distance will be
Aptitude
Time and Distance
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
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A10 min
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B11 min 20 sec
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C13 min
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D13 min 20 sec
Answer
Correct Answer: 13 min 20 sec
Explanation
### Concept & Speed Calculation
First determine the initial speed using the given distance and time, apply the speed reduction, and then calculate the new time for the same distance.
$$\text{Speed} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Time}}$$
### Step-by-Step Solution
* Distance = 10 km, Initial Time = 12 minutes = $\frac{12}{60}$ hours = $\frac{1}{5}$ hours.
* Initial Speed = $\frac{10}{\frac{1}{5}} = 50$ km/hr.
* New Speed = $50 - 5 = 45$ km/hr.
* New Time = $\frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{New Speed}} = \frac{10}{45}$ hours = $\frac{2}{9}$ hours.
* Convert to minutes: $\frac{2}{9} \times 60 = \frac{120}{9} = \frac{40}{3}$ minutes = $13\frac{1}{3}$ minutes.
* Convert $\frac{1}{3}$ minute to seconds: $\frac{1}{3} \times 60 = 20$ seconds. Total time = 13 min 20 sec.
### Exam Strategy & Shortcut
Original speed is $10 \times 5 = 50$ (since 12 mins is $1/5$ hr). Decreased speed is 45. The ratio of new speed to old speed is $45/50 = 9/10$. Time is inversely proportional, so the new time is $10/9$ of the old time. $\frac{10}{9} \times 12 = \frac{120}{9} = \frac{40}{3}$ mins = 13 mins 20 secs.
### Common Pitfall
Subtracting the 5 km/hr directly from the minutes or forgetting to convert the initial 12 minutes into hours before calculating the speed in km/hr.
### Final Answer
Therefore, the correct answer is **13 min 20 sec**.