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

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions
Start free 5-day trial
Read 559 reviewsTarget Test Prep

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Confused by Rate Problems – Can Someone Explain This Step?

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed May 28, 2025 10:56 pm
by Neselleept » Wed May 28, 2025 11:13 pm

Timer

00:00

Answers

A

B

C

D

E

Stats

Difficulty—

Hi everyone,
I’ve been practicing rate/time/distance problems and came across a question that really confused me. Here's the problem:
A car travels from Town A to Town B at 60 mph and returns at 40 mph. What is the car's average speed for the entire trip?
I initially thought the average speed should just be the average of 60 and 40, so 50 mph. But the solution says the correct answer is 48 mph and uses a formula I’m not fully clear on.
Can someone please explain:
Why 50 mph is not correct?
How to approach these types of average speed problems in general?
Thanks in advance!
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Problem Solving |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Site Admin
Posts: 6778
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:30 amFollowed by: 994 members
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 1249 times

Re: Confused by Rate Problems – Can Someone Explain This Step?

by beatthegmat » Thu May 29, 2025 8:51 am
The formula for average speed is:

total distance = (average speed)(total time)

When you travel the same distance at two different speeds, you spend more time at the slower speed (because you are traveling slower and it takes more time to travel that same distance). This means that the value of the average speed for the entire trip will be closer to the slower speed since you spend more time at that slower speed.

As an example, if you travel 120 miles at 60 miles per hour and then travel 120 miles at 40 miles per hour, then that is a total of 120 miles + 120 miles = 240 miles and 2 hours + 3 hours = 5 hours.

(120 miles+120 miles) = (average speed)(2 hours+3 hours)
240 = (average speed)(5)
240/5 = 48 miles per hour = average speed
Beat The GMAT | The MBA Social Network
Community Management Team

Research Top GMAT Prep Courses:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-prep-courses

Research The World's Top MBA Programs:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/school
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1