Pat traveled a distance of 240 miles in x hours

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Pat traveled a distance of 240 miles in x hours. For a part of the journey, he was traveling at a constant speed of 40 miles per hour whereas for the remaining part of the journey he was traveling at a constant speed of z miles per hour. How long was he traveling at z miles per hour?

(1) Average speed for the journey is 48 miles per hour.
(2) z > 48 miles per hour

The OA is E.

Aren't sufficient both statements together? Could someone explain this question? Thanks.
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by Jay@ManhattanReview » Wed May 16, 2018 10:09 pm

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M7MBA wrote:Pat traveled a distance of 240 miles in x hours. For a part of the journey, he was traveling at a constant speed of 40 miles per hour whereas for the remaining part of the journey he was traveling at a constant speed of z miles per hour. How long was he traveling at z miles per hour?

(1) Average speed for the journey is 48 miles per hour.
(2) z > 48 miles per hour

The OA is E.

Aren't sufficient both statements together? Could someone explain this question? Thanks.
Say Pat traveled a miles at a constant speed of 40 miles per hour, thus, he traveled (240 - a) miles at a constant speed of z miles per hour

=> Time taken to travel a miles + Time taken to travel a miles = x hours

a/40 + (240 - a)/z = x

We need to find out the value of (240 - a)/z.

Let's see each statement one by one,

(1) Average speed for the journey is 48 miles per hour.

=> x = 240/48 = 5
=> a/40 + (240 - a)/z = 5

But we cannot get the value of (240 - a)/z. Insufficient.

(2) z > 48 miles per hour

With this information, we cannot get the value of (240 - a)/z. Insufficient.

(1) and (2) together

Even combining both the statements cannot help as we cannot get the value of (240 - a)/z. Insufficient.

The information "z > 48 miles per hour" is redundant; since the average speed is 48 miles per hour and one of the two speeds is less than 48 (= 40), the other speed must be greater than 48.

The correct answer: E

Hope this helps!

-Jay
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