Last visit was: 22 Apr 2026, 20:08 It is currently 22 Apr 2026, 20:08
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
dp1234
Joined: 15 Nov 2021
Last visit: 20 Apr 2026
Posts: 93
Own Kudos:
66
 [1]
Given Kudos: 166
Products:
Posts: 93
Kudos: 66
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
linnet
Joined: 11 Dec 2025
Last visit: 22 Jan 2026
Posts: 81
Own Kudos:
42
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 81
Kudos: 42
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
jkkamau
Joined: 25 May 2020
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 226
Own Kudos:
190
 [1]
Given Kudos: 142
Location: Kenya
Schools: Haas '25
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V46
GPA: 3.5
Schools: Haas '25
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V46
Posts: 226
Kudos: 190
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Dereno
Joined: 22 May 2020
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,398
Own Kudos:
1,373
 [1]
Given Kudos: 425
Products:
Posts: 1,398
Kudos: 1,373
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
A railway employee is standing on a platform and observes two trains traveling in opposite directions on parallel tracks. He observes that the first train takes 40 seconds to completely pass the employee (from the moment the locomotive reaches him until the last carriage clears him), while the second takes 25 seconds to completely pass him. If the two trains take 30 seconds to completely pass each other (from the moment the fronts meet to the moment the rears separate), what is the ratio of the speed of the slower train to that of the faster train?

A. 1:4
B. 1:3
C. 1:2
D. 2:3
E. 3:4

Gift
12 Days of Christmas Competition
This question is part of our holiday event
Win $40,000 in prizes: courses, tests, and more
An employee is standing at the platform.

Two trains travelling from opposite directions towards the employee.

Let the speeds of the train be S1 and S2, the length of the respective trains be L1 and L2 respectively.

The distance of employee is considered negligible compared to length of the trains.

Train 1 covers the employee in 40 seconds.

S1 = L1 /40

Train 2 covers the employee in 25 seconds.

S2 = L2/25

When the two trains cross each other , their relative speed is added.

S1 + S2 = (L1+L2)/30

Substitute L1 = 40*S1 , and L2 = 25*S2

S1 + S2 = (40* S1 + 25*S2 ) /30

Solving further, we get

5*S2 = 10 * S1

S1: S2 = 1:2

Option C
User avatar
sitrem
Joined: 19 Nov 2025
Last visit: 24 Feb 2026
Posts: 91
Own Kudos:
84
 [1]
Given Kudos: 238
Posts: 91
Kudos: 84
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
reading this it seems like a unique type of distance/speed problem, where instead of a distance we have to consider the length of the trains.

distance = speed * time
length train 1 = x1 speed train 1 = s1
length train 2 = x2 speed train 2 = s2
from the trains passing the employee we know that
x1 = 40 * s1
x2 = 25 * s2

from the trains passing each other
speed = s1 + s2 (because they are moving in opposite directions)
(x1 + x2) = 30 * (s1 + s2)
40s1 + 40s2 = 30 (s1 + s2)
10s1 = 5s2 -> s2 = 2s1
s1 : s2 = 1 : 2

Answer C
User avatar
pappal
Joined: 24 Nov 2022
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 314
Own Kudos:
109
 [1]
Given Kudos: 94
Products:
Posts: 314
Kudos: 109
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
let lengths and speeds of the slow and fast trains be (l1,s1) and (l2,s2) respectively.
s1=l1/40 and s2=l2/25 (trains passing a static point)
s1/s2=(l1/l2) *5/8--------1.
now trains pass each other when moving towards each other in 30 sec=(l1+l2)/(s1+s2)
=> putting values of s1 and s2 in terms of l1 and l2 and solving we get
50 l1=40 l2
l1/l2=4/5-----2.
solving 1. and 2. we get s1/s2=1:2
so C
User avatar
canopyinthecity
Joined: 12 Jul 2025
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 92
Own Kudos:
61
 [1]
Given Kudos: 19
Posts: 92
Kudos: 61
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Train 1Train 2Together from opposite direction
SpeedS1S2S1+S2 (Relative Speed)
Time402530
Distance40*S125*S230*(S1+S2)

40*S1+25*S2 = 30*(S1+S2)
Solving S1/S2 = 1/2

(C) is the answer
User avatar
iBN
Joined: 13 Jan 2025
Last visit: 06 Mar 2026
Posts: 45
Own Kudos:
36
 [1]
Given Kudos: 25
Location: India
WE:Marketing (Consulting)
Products:
Posts: 45
Kudos: 36
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
A railway employee is standing on a platform and observes two trains traveling in opposite directions on parallel tracks. He observes that the first train takes 40 seconds to completely pass the employee (from the moment the locomotive reaches him until the last carriage clears him), while the second takes 25 seconds to completely pass him. If the two trains take 30 seconds to completely pass each other (from the moment the fronts meet to the moment the rears separate), what is the ratio of the speed of the slower train to that of the faster train?

A. 1:4
B. 1:3
C. 1:2
D. 2:3
E. 3:4

Gift
12 Days of Christmas Competition
This question is part of our holiday event
Win $40,000 in prizes: courses, tests, and more

Lets seperate the question into two scenarios

TRAIN CROSSING Employee scenario

Time taken by train 1 to cross employee = LENGTH OF TRAIN 1 /SPEED

"" """ """ by train 2 to cross employee = length of train 2 / speed.

hence we will get L1= S1 x 40 and L2=S2 X 25



SECOND SCENARIO - TRAIN CROSSING EACH OTHER SCENARIO

TIME TAKEN TO CROSS EACH OTHER = L1+L2/S1+S2.

We have found L1 and L2 in terms of s1 and s2. substitute that value.

30 = 40 S1+25 S2 / S1+S2.

30 (S1+S2) = 40S1 + 25 S2.

10 S1 = 5 S2

S1/S2 = 5/10 = 1/2

HENCE OPTION C
User avatar
rahumangal
Joined: 20 Nov 2022
Last visit: 07 Apr 2026
Posts: 71
Own Kudos:
66
 [1]
Given Kudos: 316
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Real Estate
GPA: 3.99
WE:Engineering (Technology)
Products:
Posts: 71
Kudos: 66
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
A railway employee is standing on a platform and observes two trains traveling in opposite directions on parallel tracks. He observes that the first train takes 40 seconds to completely pass the employee (from the moment the locomotive reaches him until the last carriage clears him), while the second takes 25 seconds to completely pass him. If the two trains take 30 seconds to completely pass each other (from the moment the fronts meet to the moment the rears separate), what is the ratio of the speed of the slower train to that of the faster train?

A. 1:4
B. 1:3
C. 1:2
D. 2:3
E. 3:4

Gift
12 Days of Christmas Competition
This question is part of our holiday event
Win $40,000 in prizes: courses, tests, and more
Trick--- when train passes a person it actually covers its own length and when it crosses it other it covers the sum of their lengths
lenths of slower train =d1
lenths of faster train =d2
speed of slower train=d1/40
speed of faster train= d2/25
relative speed= d1/40+d1/25
so time taken to pass eachother=30
(d1+d2)/(d1/25+d2/40)=30
d1/d2=5/4
so ratio=(d1/40)/(d2/25)=1/2
Ans-c
User avatar
sriharsha4444
Joined: 06 Jun 2018
Last visit: 05 Mar 2026
Posts: 125
Own Kudos:
84
 [1]
Given Kudos: 803
Posts: 125
Kudos: 84
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
length of first train (l1) = v1 * 40
length of second train (l2) =v2 * 25


the ends of each train to come together

\(v1 + v2 = \frac{((v1*40) + (v2*25))}{30}\)

v1*30 + v2*30 = v1*40 + v2*25
v2*5 = v1*10

\(\frac{5}{10} =\frac{v1}{v2}\)

\(\frac{1}{2} =\frac{v1}{v2}\)

ans: C
User avatar
Veerenk
Joined: 23 Sep 2024
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 28
Own Kudos:
10
 [1]
Given Kudos: 225
Location: India
Posts: 28
Kudos: 10
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Suppose trains A & B
If the speed of train -A: x
Speed of train-B:y

Length of train-A= Speed X time = x*40=40x
Length of Train-B= 25y

Given that, two trains together take 30 sec to cross eachother, then
(40x + 25y)/(x+y) = 30
40x + 25y = 30x + 30y
10x=5y
Therefore, x<y
slower by faster= 5/10 = 1/2
Bunuel
A railway employee is standing on a platform and observes two trains traveling in opposite directions on parallel tracks. He observes that the first train takes 40 seconds to completely pass the employee (from the moment the locomotive reaches him until the last carriage clears him), while the second takes 25 seconds to completely pass him. If the two trains take 30 seconds to completely pass each other (from the moment the fronts meet to the moment the rears separate), what is the ratio of the speed of the slower train to that of the faster train?

A. 1:4
B. 1:3
C. 1:2
D. 2:3
E. 3:4

Gift
12 Days of Christmas Competition
This question is part of our holiday event
Win $40,000 in prizes: courses, tests, and more
User avatar
HowCanIDoThis
Joined: 11 Oct 2025
Last visit: 06 Feb 2026
Posts: 19
Own Kudos:
14
 [1]
Given Kudos: 3
Posts: 19
Kudos: 14
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Quote:
A railway employee is standing on a platform and observes two trains traveling in opposite directions on parallel tracks. He observes that the first train takes 40 seconds to completely pass the employee (from the moment the locomotive reaches him until the last carriage clears him), while the second takes 25 seconds to completely pass him. If the two trains take 30 seconds to completely pass each other (from the moment the fronts meet to the moment the rears separate), what is the ratio of the speed of the slower train to that of the faster train?

Passing the employee can be understood as travelling the whole length of the train.
For the first train which takes 40s to do so, we have: d1 = v1*40
For the second train which takes 25s to do so, we have: d2 = v2*25

The two trains passing each other can be understood as both of them travelling their combined length (calculated from the moment the fronts meet). As they were travelling in opposite direction, this gives us: d1+d2 = (v1+v2)*30
=> v1*40 +v2*25 = v1*30+v2*30
=> v1*10 = v2*5 => v2:v1 = 5:10 = 1:2
Answer: C
User avatar
750rest
Joined: 27 Jul 2022
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 46
Own Kudos:
34
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,126
Concentration: Marketing, Operations
Products:
Posts: 46
Kudos: 34
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Suppose 1st train length L1 & 2nd L2. So first speed L1/40 & second L2/25. When passes each other length & speed both would add. hence (L1+L2)/(L1/40+L2/25)=30 gives L1/L2=4/5. Since 1st takes more time & length is lesser it would be slower therfore question is asking V1/V2 ---> (L1/40)/(L2/25) = 5L1/8L2= (5/8)*(4/5)= 1:2
Bunuel
A railway employee is standing on a platform and observes two trains traveling in opposite directions on parallel tracks. He observes that the first train takes 40 seconds to completely pass the employee (from the moment the locomotive reaches him until the last carriage clears him), while the second takes 25 seconds to completely pass him. If the two trains take 30 seconds to completely pass each other (from the moment the fronts meet to the moment the rears separate), what is the ratio of the speed of the slower train to that of the faster train?

A. 1:4
B. 1:3
C. 1:2
D. 2:3
E. 3:4

Gift
12 Days of Christmas Competition
This question is part of our holiday event
Win $40,000 in prizes: courses, tests, and more
User avatar
arnab24
Joined: 16 Jan 2024
Last visit: 25 Feb 2026
Posts: 96
Own Kudos:
81
 [1]
Given Kudos: 7
Location: India
Schools: ISB '26
GPA: 8.80
Products:
Schools: ISB '26
Posts: 96
Kudos: 81
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Let the speed of first train be s1 , s2 for second train , l1 be the length of first train , l2 be the length of second train. Following equations will be created:

s1=l1/40 , s2 = l2/25 , (s1+s2) = (l1+l2)/30 [based on relative speed concept]

so , l1/40 +l2/25 = l1/30 + l2/30

from here l2 = 5/4 l1

So , l2 >l1 , which implies s2>s1

then we need to find s1/s2 ,

s1/s2 = (l1/40)/(l2/25) = (l1/l2)*(25/40) = 1/2 which is the answer
Bunuel
A railway employee is standing on a platform and observes two trains traveling in opposite directions on parallel tracks. He observes that the first train takes 40 seconds to completely pass the employee (from the moment the locomotive reaches him until the last carriage clears him), while the second takes 25 seconds to completely pass him. If the two trains take 30 seconds to completely pass each other (from the moment the fronts meet to the moment the rears separate), what is the ratio of the speed of the slower train to that of the faster train?

A. 1:4
B. 1:3
C. 1:2
D. 2:3
E. 3:4

Gift
12 Days of Christmas Competition
This question is part of our holiday event
Win $40,000 in prizes: courses, tests, and more
User avatar
gemministorm
Joined: 26 May 2025
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 143
Own Kudos:
110
 [1]
Given Kudos: 57
GMAT Focus 1: 565 Q82 V79 DI73
GMAT Focus 2: 605 Q84 V83 DI73
GMAT Focus 2: 605 Q84 V83 DI73
Posts: 143
Kudos: 110
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
let length and speed be L1,v1, L2,v2
Given: L1=40v1 (slower train) L2=25v2 (faster train)
Acc to ques: 30 = (L1 + L2)/(v1 + v2) = (40v1 + 25v2)/(v1 + v2) => on solving v1/v2 = 1/2.
User avatar
officiisestyad
Joined: 25 Oct 2025
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 44
Own Kudos:
37
 [1]
Given Kudos: 37
Location: India
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Real Estate
GMAT Focus 1: 515 Q78 V79 DI70
GMAT 1: 510 Q50 V47
GPA: 10
WE:Other (Other)
Products:
GMAT Focus 1: 515 Q78 V79 DI70
GMAT 1: 510 Q50 V47
Posts: 44
Kudos: 37
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Time = Length / Speed
Let L1 & L2 be the length of 2 trains
And, V1 & V2 be the speed of 2 trains
For first train : Time = 40 sec
L1/V1 = 40 --- > L1 = 40V1
Second train : Time = 25 sec
L2/V2 = 25 ---> L2 = 25V2
So when they pass each other: (L1 + L2) / (V1 + V2) = 30
Simplify and cross multiply:
(40V1 + 25 V2) = 30 (V1 + V2)
V1 = 2V2
Ratio (Slow : Fast) = 1/2
User avatar
Abhiswarup
Joined: 07 Apr 2024
Last visit: 12 Jan 2026
Posts: 198
Own Kudos:
172
 [1]
Given Kudos: 42
Location: India
Posts: 198
Kudos: 172
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Let L1 be the length of 1st train and x be its speed, L1=40x
Let L2 be the length of 2nd train and y be its speed, L2=25y
When train1 & train2 cross each other
L1+L2=30x+30y=40x+25y
10x=5y
Solving, x:y::1:2
Correct answer is C.
User avatar
truedelulu
Joined: 01 Sep 2025
Last visit: 24 Jan 2026
Posts: 81
Own Kudos:
70
 [1]
Given Kudos: 16
Products:
Posts: 81
Kudos: 70
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Lets say the first train is a length, with v1 speed.
the second train is b length, with v2 speed.

The first train takes 40 seconds to pass the employee while the second train takes 25s
=> v1 = a/40, v2 = b/25

When the two train completely pass each other, they have moved the total (a+b) distance:
=> a+b = 30(a/40+b/25) => a/b = 4/5

v1:v2 = (4/5*b/40) : (b/25) = 1:2

Answer: C

Bunuel
A railway employee is standing on a platform and observes two trains traveling in opposite directions on parallel tracks. He observes that the first train takes 40 seconds to completely pass the employee (from the moment the locomotive reaches him until the last carriage clears him), while the second takes 25 seconds to completely pass him. If the two trains take 30 seconds to completely pass each other (from the moment the fronts meet to the moment the rears separate), what is the ratio of the speed of the slower train to that of the faster train?

A. 1:4
B. 1:3
C. 1:2
D. 2:3
E. 3:4

Gift
12 Days of Christmas Competition
This question is part of our holiday event
Win $40,000 in prizes: courses, tests, and more
User avatar
Sumimasen
Joined: 21 Jan 2024
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 36
Own Kudos:
33
 [1]
Given Kudos: 11
Products:
Posts: 36
Kudos: 33
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
When two objects in towards each other in from opposite directions then their relative speed will be sum of their respective speeds.
If they move apart from each other, then relative speed will be difference of their respective speeds.
Attachments

PS2.jpeg
PS2.jpeg [ 70.35 KiB | Viewed 256 times ]

User avatar
harishg
Joined: 18 Dec 2018
Last visit: 09 Apr 2026
Posts: 176
Own Kudos:
174
 [1]
Given Kudos: 31
GMAT Focus 1: 695 Q88 V84 DI81
Products:
GMAT Focus 1: 695 Q88 V84 DI81
Posts: 176
Kudos: 174
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Let L1, S1 be the length and speed of train 1 and L2, S2 for Train 2.

We have L1/S1= 40 and L2/S2 =25. We can neglect the length of the employee as it is negligible

For trains to cross each other completely, L1+L2 has to be traversed. Moreover, since they are travelling in opposite directions, the combined speed is S1+S2

Therefore, L1+L2/ S1+S2 = 30

Substituting the first two equations in the above equation, we have

40S1+25S2 = 30S1+ 30S2

S1/S2 =1/2

Therefore, Option C
   1   2   3   4   
Moderators:
Math Expert
109754 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts