CAT 2025

Slot 1

QA

Question & Solution

According to question, Shruti travels a distance of 224 km in four parts for a total travel time of 3 hours.

Given, in the first part time required is 30 minutes.

Also, the time taken to cover these four parts follow arithmetic progression.

So, let us say the times be 30 minutes, (30+d) minutes, (30+2d) minutes and (30+3d) minutes

So, $$30+\left(30+d\right)+\left(30+2d\right)+\left(30+3d\right)=180$$

or, $$6d=180-120$$

or, $$6d=60$$

or, $$d=\dfrac{60}{6}=10$$ minutes.

So, the time required in these four parts are 30 minutes, 40 minutes, 50 minutes and 60 minutes respectively.

Now, in the first part, speed is 960 metres per minute.

Speed in the four parts is also in arithmetic progression.

Let's say the speeds be $$(960+x)$$,$$(960+2x)$$,$$(960+3x)$$ metres per minute

So, total distance covered = $$960\times\ 30+\left(960+x\right)\times\ 40+\left(960+2x\right)\times\ 50+\left(960+3x\right)\times\ 60$$ metres 

So, $$960\times\ 30+\left(960+x\right)\times\ 40+\left(960+2x\right)\times\ 50+\left(960+3x\right)\times\ 60=224000$$

or, $$960\left(30+40+50+60\right)+40x+\left(2x\right)\left(50\right)+\left(3x\right)\left(60\right)=224000$$

or, $$172800+320x=224000$$

or, $$320x=224000-172800=51200$$

or, $$x=\dfrac{51200}{320}=160$$

So, the speed in the fourth part is $$960+3x=960+3\times\ 160=1440$$ metres per minute

Time in the fourth part is 60 minutes

So, distance covered in the fourth part = $$1440\times\ 60=86400$$ metres

So, option D is the correct answer.