A man started from home at 14:30 hours and drove to village, arriving there when the village clock indicated 15:15 hours. After staying for 25 minutes, he drove back by a different route of length 1.25 times the first route at a rate twice as fast reaching home at 16:00 hours. As compared to the clock at home, the village clock is
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) 5 minutes fast
Of the 90 minutes he was away by the home clock, 65 were spent driving. The return took 0.625 of the outward time, so the outward drive took 40 minutes and he reached the village at 15:10 home time — the village clock, showing 15:15, is 5 minutes fast.
- By the home clock he was away from 14:30 to 16:00 = 90 minutes; 25 minutes were spent in the village, so driving took 65 minutes.
- Let the outward drive take t minutes. The return route is 1.25 times as long at twice the speed, so it takes 1.25 ÷ 2 × t = 0.625t.
- t + 0.625t = 65, so 1.625t = 65 and t = 40 minutes.
- He reached the village at 14:30 + 40 min = 15:10 by the home clock, when the village clock showed 15:15.
- So the village clock is 5 minutes fast.
- Check: he leaves the village at 15:35 (home time); the return takes 0.625 × 40 = 25 minutes, reaching home at 16:00.
Remember · Use only one clock for elapsed time; compare the other clock’s reading with the true time at that moment.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2022, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·