Question

the traffic lights at three different road crossing change after every 48 sec, 72 sec and 108 sec
respectively .If they change simultaneously at 7 am , at what time will they changes simultaneously again?

Answer 1

48 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 3
72 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3
108 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 3
Hence LCM of 48, 72 and 108 is = 432
That is after 432 seconds they will change simultaneously.
432 seconds = 7 min 12 seconds
Thus the traffic lights change simultaneously at 7:7:12 am. Answer..........

Answer 2

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If the traffic lights change simultaneously at 7 a.m, then they will change simultaneously again after the LCM of the duration i.e. 48 s, 72 s and 108 s.

LCM of these durations by prime factorisation

• 48 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 = 2⁴ × 3
• 72 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 = 2³ × 3²
• 108 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 3 = 2² × 3³

LCM of 48, 72 and 108 is 2⁴ × 3³ = 432 seconds.

Hence, They will change after 432 seconds i.e. 7 minutes 12 seconds.

The traffic lights will change after:

• 7 am + 7 minutes 12 seconds
• 07 : 07 : 12 am