Average/Rate Question

This topic has expert replies
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:02 am

Average/Rate Question

by soluja2003 » Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:49 am
It takes Carlos 9 minutes to drive from home to work at an average of 22 miles per hour. How many minutes will it take Carlos to cycle from home to work along the same route at an average of 6 miles per hour?

A. 26
B. 33
C. 36
D. 44
E. 48

Thanks!
Source: — Problem Solving |

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3225
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:40 pm
Location: Toronto
Thanked: 1710 times
Followed by:614 members
GMAT Score:800

Re: Average/Rate Question

by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:57 am
soluja2003 wrote:It takes Carlos 9 minutes to drive from home to work at an average of 22 miles per hour. How many minutes will it take Carlos to cycle from home to work along the same route at an average of 6 miles per hour?

A. 26
B. 33
C. 36
D. 44
E. 48

Thanks!
The quickest way to do this question is by estimating using the ratio of speeds.

At 22 mph it took 9 minutes. 22mph is a bit less than 4 times 6mph, therefore it should take a bit less than 4*9=36. Only one choice is a bit less than 36: choose (b).

We could also solve this the more traditional way, using the distance/rate/time formula.

We know that d = r * t

When r=22, t=9 minutes = 9/60 hours (or 3/20 hour after reducing).

So, d = 22 (3/20) = 66/20 = 33/10

If we let r = 6, we can now solve for t:

33/10 = 6t

t = (33/10)/6

t = 33/10 * 1/6 = 33/60. Since one hour is 60 minutes, that give us a time of 33 minutes.
Image

Stuart Kovinsky | Kaplan GMAT Faculty | Toronto

Kaplan Exclusive: The Official Test Day Experience | Ready to Take a Free Practice Test? | Kaplan/Beat the GMAT Member Discount
BTG100 for $100 off a full course

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:02 am

by soluja2003 » Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:16 am
Thanks! That helped!

User avatar
Community Manager
Posts: 156
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:06 am
Location: Mumbai, India
Thanked: 16 times
Followed by:3 members
GMAT Score:700

by viidyasagar » Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:42 pm
It takes Carlos 9 minutes to drive from home to work at an average of 22 miles per hour. How many minutes will it take Carlos to cycle from home to work along the same route at an average of 6 miles per hour?

A. 26
B. 33
C. 36
D. 44
E. 48
Same Distance, hence product of S1*T1 must be equal to S2*T2 (S = Speed, T = Time)

22*9 = x * 6

x= 33

Be careful of units (hour to minute conversion unless they are the same on both sides)