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Two people drive towards each other from two places which are 56┬аkm apart. The speed of the first person is 13┬аkm/h and speed of the other is 14┬аkm/h. After how long will they be 2┬аkm apart if they start driving together?
2 hours
2 hours 10 minutes
1 hour 30 minutes
1 hour
2 hours
Calculate relative speed (13+14=27 km/h). Subtract the target distance from total distance (56тИТ2=54 km) and divide by relative speed (54/27=2 hours).
Distance between two places = 56 km. Speed of first person = 13 km/h. Speed of second person = 14 km/h. Target remaining distance = 2 km.
t=v1тАЛ+v2тАЛDinitialтАЛтИТDfinalтАЛтАЛ
Calculate relative speed (13+14=27 km/h). Subtract the target distance from total distance (56тИТ2=54 km) and divide by relative speed (54/27=2 hours).
Students often calculate the time for the total distance of 56 km instead of the relative distance covered (56тИТ2=54 km).
Calculate Relative Speed
Since the two people are driving towards each other, their relative speed is the sum of their individual speeds.
vrelтАЛ=13+14=27┬аkm/h
Calculate Effective Distance to Cover
They need to be 2 km apart, so they must cover the difference between the total distance and the target distance.
DeffтАЛ=56тИТ2=54┬аkm
Calculate Time
Using the time formula t=vDтАЛ, substitute the effective distance and relative speed.
t=2754тАЛ=2┬аhours
A is correct because the two people will be 2 km apart after covering a combined distance of 54 km at a relative speed of 27 km/h, resulting in 2 hours.
This concept of relative speed is crucial for train-crossing problems and boat-stream problems in competitive exams.