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The traffic lights at three different crossings turn red after every 30 sec, 45 sec and 60 sec, respectively. If they all turn red simultaneously at 8:30 a.m., then at what time will they again turn red simultaneously?
8:34 a.m.
8:33 a.m.
8:35 a.m.
8:38 a.m.
8:33 a.m.
Find the LCM of 30, 45, and 60. The LCM is 180 seconds. Since 180 seconds = 3 minutes, add 3 minutes to 8:30 a.m. to get 8:33 a.m.
Traffic lights turn red at intervals of 30 seconds, 45 seconds, and 60 seconds. They all turned red simultaneously at 8:30 a.m.
LCM(a,b,c)=Smallest┬аmultiple┬аdivisible┬аby┬аa,b,┬аand┬аc
Find the LCM of 30, 45, and 60. The LCM is 180 seconds. Since 180 seconds = 3 minutes, add 3 minutes to 8:30 a.m. to get 8:33 a.m.
Many students calculate the HCF instead of the LCM or forget to convert the total seconds into minutes correctly.
Find the LCM of intervals
To find when the lights turn red together, calculate the Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 30, 45, and 60.
LCM(30,45,60)=180┬аseconds
Convert seconds to minutes
Convert the total duration into minutes by dividing by 60.
180┬аseconds=60180тАЛ=3┬аminutes
Calculate the final time
Add the duration to the initial time of 8:30┬аa.m..
8:30┬аa.m.+3┬аminutes=8:33┬аa.m.
B is correct because the lights turn red simultaneously again after exactly 3 minutes, making the time 8:33 a.m.
The LCM method is standard for any 'bells ringing together' or 'runners starting together' problems in competitive exams.