BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

Tom travels from A to B at a constant speed of 4 miles per h

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 3991
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2015 2:28 amFollowed by: 37 members
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Thanked: 19 times
by Max@Math Revolution » Thu Jul 18, 2019 2:09 am

Timer

00:00

Answers

A

B

C

D

E

Stats

Difficulty—

[GMAT math practice question]

Tom travels from A to B at a constant speed of 4 miles per hour and returns from B to A at a constant speed of 8 miles per hour. What is Tom's average speed for the entire journey?

A. 14/3
B. 5
C. 16/3
D. 17/3
E. 18/3
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Problem Solving |
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2019 8:48 pm

by Jaykpatel21 » Thu Jul 18, 2019 6:33 am
Average speed = Total distance/total time = $$\frac{2x}{\frac{3x}{8}}$$ = 16/3. Hence C
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2019 8:40 am

by Darkknightreturning » Sun Jul 21, 2019 2:44 am
Let x miles be the distance between A & B.
Time taken in reaching from A to B = Dist/speed = x/4
Time taken in reaching from B to A = Dist/speed = x/8
Total distance = x+x=2x
Total time = x/4+x/8 = 3x/8
Avg speed = total dist/total time = 2x/3x/8 = 16/3 miles/hr
Thus ans is C.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 3991
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2015 2:28 amFollowed by: 37 members
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Thanked: 19 times

by Max@Math Revolution » Sun Jul 21, 2019 5:30 pm
=>

The average speed is calculated by dividing the total distance by the total time. We often encounter this type of question on the GMAT exam.

Let d be the distance between A and B.
The time that Tom takes to travel from A to B is d/4 and the time that he takes to travel from B to A is d/8.
The total time taken is (d/4) + (d/8) = 3d/8.
The average speed is 2d / (3d/8) = 16/3.

Therefore, the answer is C.
Answer: C
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 8157
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 amFollowed by: 29 members
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 43 times

by Scott@TargetTestPrep » Tue Jul 30, 2019 8:38 am
Max@Math Revolution wrote:[GMAT math practice question]

Tom travels from A to B at a constant speed of 4 miles per hour and returns from B to A at a constant speed of 8 miles per hour. What is Tom's average speed for the entire journey?

A. 14/3
B. 5
C. 16/3
D. 17/3
E. 18/3
We can use the formula (total distance)/(total time), and let the distance each way = 16, thus:

32/(16/4 + 16/8) = 32/6 = 16/3

Answer: C

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO
[email protected]

Image

See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews

ImageImage
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1