Subject: General Aptitude · Chapter: Time and Distance · Exam: · Marks: · Difficulty:
A thief steals a car at 2.30 p.m. and drives it at 60 kmph. The theft is discovered at 3 p.m. and the owner sets off in another car at 75 kmph. When will he overtake the thief?
(a)4.30 p.m.
(b)4.45 p.m.
(c)5 p.m.
(d)5.15 p.m.
Answer
Answer (as printed): C
Explanation
Suppose the thief is overtaken $x$ hrs after 2.30 p.m. Then, Distance covered by the thief in $x$ hrs = Distance covered by the owner in $\left(x-\frac{1}{2}\right)$ hrs. $$\therefore 60 x=75\left(x-\frac{1}{2}\right) \Leftrightarrow 15 x=\frac{75}{2} \Leftrightarrow x=\frac{5}{2} \text { hrs. }$$ So, the thief is overtaken at 5 p.m.
Explanation as extracted from the printed page; notation may be imperfect.