A man walks at 4 km/hr on plain, then at 3 km/hr uphill and then returns…

2025

A man walks at 4 km/hr on plain, then at 3 km/hr uphill and then returns through the same road at 6 km/hr downhill and at 4 km/hr on the plain. It takes altogether 6 hours. So what distance he covered in one way?

  1. A.

    24 km

  2. B.

    14 km

  3. C.

    22 km

  4. D.

    6 km

Attempted by 9 students.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Key idea: write the total time for both directions and solve for the one-way distance.

  • Let x be the plain distance (one way) and y be the uphill distance (one way). The one-way distance is x + y.

  • Outward time: plain at 4 km/h gives x/4 hours; uphill at 3 km/h gives y/3 hours.

  • Return time: downhill at 6 km/h gives y/6 hours; plain at 4 km/h gives x/4 hours.

  • Total time = x/4 + y/3 + y/6 + x/4 = x/2 + y/2 = (x + y)/2.

  • Given total time is 6 hours, set (x + y)/2 = 6, so x + y = 12.

Conclusion: The one-way distance is 12 km.

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