XAT 2012 — Decision Making Question 8
Answer the following questions on the basis of the information given in the following case.
Tina a blast furnace expert, who works as a technology trouble-shooter stays in Jamshedpur. She has got an important assignment in Delhi, which requires six hours to complete. The work is so critical that she has to start working the moment she reaches the client’s premises.
She is considering various options for her onward and return journey between Jamshedpur to Delhi.
A quick search revealed that ticket from Jamshedpur to Delhi is available in two trains. Trains 12801 and 12443 depart from Jamshedpur station at 06:45 hrs and 15.55 hrs and reach Delhi next day at 04:50 hrs and 10:35 hrs respectively. Trains 12444 and 12802 start from Delhi at 17:20 hrs and 22:20 hrs and reach Jamshedpur next day at 10:35 hrs and 20:05 hrs respectively.
Another option is to reach Ranchi by a three hour road trip and take a flight to Delhi from Ranchi. The distance between Ranchi and Delhi is covered in 105 minutes both-ways by any of the scheduled flights. Air India operates two flights, AI 9810 and AI 810, which depart Ranchi at 8:00 hrs and 15:25 hrs respectively. Flight number IT-3348 operated by Kingfisher Airlines departs Ranchi at 19:20 hrs. Return flights operated by Air India, AI 9809 and AI 809, depart Delhi at 5:50 hrs and 11:00 hrs respectively. Flight number IT-3347 operated by Kingfisher Airlines departs Delhi at 17:10 hrs.
From Tina’s home Jamshedpur railway station is five minutes drive, and her destination at Delhi is 90 minutes and 30 minutes drive from airport and railway station respectively. One has to reach the airport at least one hour before the scheduled departure to complete the boarding procedure. At every railway station she loses five minutes in navigating through the crowd.
Tina has to appear for an exam on 8th of January in Jamshedpur and she can start from her residence in Jamshedpur only after 16:00 hrs of the same day. Choose the option, from the options given below, that will help her to minimize the total time out of Jamshedpur.
Answer & solution
- A
Go by Train 12443 and return by Train 12444
- B
Go by Train 12443 and return by AI 9809
- C
Go by IT 3348 and return by Train 12801
- D
Go by AI 810 and return by Train 12801
Go by AI 9810 and return by AI 9809
Tina cannot leave before 16:00 hours on 8th January. So, if any of the travel modes necessitate departure before 16:00 hours, she will have to start the journey on 9th January. However, keep in mind that the “time out of Jamshedpur” is to be minimized. So, the time that she spends in Jamshedpur till her departure on 9th January cannot be considered “waiting time”.
Consider each option.
Option 1:
Since there are 2 train journeys,
Travel time = (2 × 10) + (2 × 35) + Actual travel in 12443 + Actual travel in 12444 = 20 + 70 + 1120 + 1035 = 2245 minutes
Work time = 360 minutes.
If she goes by train 12443, she will depart on 9th January, reach the work site at 11:10 hours on 10th and finish the work at 17:10 hours. Because train 12444 departs at 17:20 hours, she will miss it and will have to catch it on 11th January. This means a waiting time till 16:45 hours of 11th January i.e. 1415 minutes
So, total time = 2245 + 360 + 1415 = 4020 minutes.
Option 2:
She goes by train and returns by flight
Travel time = Time from home to Jamshedpur station + Actual train travel + Time from Delhi railway station to work site + Flight time = 10 + 1120 + 35 + 435 = 1600 minutes
Work Time = 360 minutes
If she goes by train 12443, she will depart on 9th January, reach the work site at 11:10 hours on 10th and finish the work at 17:10 hours. Flight AI 9809 departs at 05:50 hours on 11th January. So, she will have to wait till 03:20 hours of 11th January i.e. a waiting time of 610 minutes
So, total time = 1600 + 360 + 610 = 2570 minutes.
Hence, option (a) can be eliminated.
Observe that options 3 and 4 can straightaway be eliminated as the mention a return journey by train 12801, which is not possible as that train travels from Jamshedpur to Delhi and not the other way round.
Hence, options 3 and 4 can be eliminated.
Option 5:
She travels both ways by flight.
Travel time = 435 × 2 = 870 minutes
Work Time = 360 minutes
If she goes by AI 9810, she departs on 9th January, reaches the work site at 11:15 hours on 9th and finishes the work at 17:15 hours. Flight AI 9809 departs at 05:50 hours on 10th January. So, she will have to wait till 03:20 hours of 11th January i.e. a waiting time of 605 minutes
So, total time = 870 + 360 + 605 = 1835 minutes.
Hence, option (b) can be eliminated.
Hence, option (e).