- sumit.sinha
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This is a question from Manhattan Word Translations Bonus Question area:
QUESTION
Trains A and B travel at the same constant rate in opposite directions along the same route between Town G and Town H. If, after traveling for 2 hours, Train A passes Train B, how long does it take Train B to travel the entire distance between Town G and Town H?
(1) Train B started traveling between Town G and Town H 1 hour after Train A started traveling between Town H and Town G.
(2) Train B travels at the rate of 150 miles per hour.
ANSWER
We are asked to find the time that it takes Train B to travel the entire distance between the two towns.
(1) SUFFICIENT: This tells us that B started traveling 1 hour after Train A started traveling. From the question we know that Train A had been traveling for 2 hours when the trains passed each other. Thus, train B, which started 1 hour later, must have been traveling for 2 - 1 = 1 hour when the trains passed each other.
Let's call the point at which the two trains pass each other Point P. Train A travels from Town H to Point P in 2 hours, while Train B travels from Town G to Point P in 1 hour. Adding up these distances and times, we have it that the two trains covered the entire distance between the towns in 3 (i.e. 2 + 1) hours of combined travel time. Since both trains travel at the same rate, it will take 3 hours for either train to cover the entire distance alone. Thus, from Statement (1) we know that it will take Train B 3 hours to travel between Town G and Town H.
(2) INSUFFICIENT: This provides the rate for Train B. Since both trains travel at the same rate, this is also the rate for Train A. However, we have no information about when Train B started traveling (relative to when Train A started traveling) and we have no information about the distance between Town G and Town H. Thus, we cannot calculate any information about time.
[spoiler]
The correct answer is A.[/spoiler]
I think the question is flawed.
I have no issues against the Statement (1) explanation, its perfectly fine. time taken = 3 hours. It is sufficient.
But for Statement (2) explanation - it says "we have no information about when Train B started traveling (relative to when Train A started traveling)". My question is why do we even need this information? There is no mention of any relative delay in the main question, so why are we referring to Statement (1) for solving Statement (2). Isn't each of the statements are to be solved in isolation from one another??
Statement (2) also in isolation from Statement (1) is sufficient. Because time taken will come up to 4 hours.
Answer should be (D). But again as the two statements cannot conflict each other (time taken = 3 or 4) so this question itself is flawed.
Guys, please throw in your views.
QUESTION
Trains A and B travel at the same constant rate in opposite directions along the same route between Town G and Town H. If, after traveling for 2 hours, Train A passes Train B, how long does it take Train B to travel the entire distance between Town G and Town H?
(1) Train B started traveling between Town G and Town H 1 hour after Train A started traveling between Town H and Town G.
(2) Train B travels at the rate of 150 miles per hour.
ANSWER
We are asked to find the time that it takes Train B to travel the entire distance between the two towns.
(1) SUFFICIENT: This tells us that B started traveling 1 hour after Train A started traveling. From the question we know that Train A had been traveling for 2 hours when the trains passed each other. Thus, train B, which started 1 hour later, must have been traveling for 2 - 1 = 1 hour when the trains passed each other.
Let's call the point at which the two trains pass each other Point P. Train A travels from Town H to Point P in 2 hours, while Train B travels from Town G to Point P in 1 hour. Adding up these distances and times, we have it that the two trains covered the entire distance between the towns in 3 (i.e. 2 + 1) hours of combined travel time. Since both trains travel at the same rate, it will take 3 hours for either train to cover the entire distance alone. Thus, from Statement (1) we know that it will take Train B 3 hours to travel between Town G and Town H.
(2) INSUFFICIENT: This provides the rate for Train B. Since both trains travel at the same rate, this is also the rate for Train A. However, we have no information about when Train B started traveling (relative to when Train A started traveling) and we have no information about the distance between Town G and Town H. Thus, we cannot calculate any information about time.
[spoiler]
The correct answer is A.[/spoiler]
I think the question is flawed.
I have no issues against the Statement (1) explanation, its perfectly fine. time taken = 3 hours. It is sufficient.
But for Statement (2) explanation - it says "we have no information about when Train B started traveling (relative to when Train A started traveling)". My question is why do we even need this information? There is no mention of any relative delay in the main question, so why are we referring to Statement (1) for solving Statement (2). Isn't each of the statements are to be solved in isolation from one another??
Statement (2) also in isolation from Statement (1) is sufficient. Because time taken will come up to 4 hours.
Answer should be (D). But again as the two statements cannot conflict each other (time taken = 3 or 4) so this question itself is flawed.
Guys, please throw in your views.
Last edited by sumit.sinha on Sat Sep 18, 2010 2:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

















