Time Speed _ Problem_Please help

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Time Speed _ Problem_Please help

by sanalnnair » Tue Sep 14, 2010 9:29 am
During a trip on an expressway, Don drove a total of x miles. His average speed on a certain 5-mile section of the expressway was 30 miles/hr, and his average speed for the remainder of the trip was 60miles per hour. His travel time for the x -mile trip was what percent greater than it would have been if he had traveled at a constant rate of 60 miles per hour for the entire trip??

1) 8.5%

2) 50%

3) x/12 %

4) 60/x %

5) 500/x %


Source - GMAT Prep.

I don't know the answer.


Please explain the steps needed to solve this question.


In this question I had solved it as, since 5miles he traveled in 30 miles/hr, therefore his time was 1 / 6 hr.

Again he traveled remaining (x-5) miles in 60 miles/hr. Then his time is (x-5) / 60

Then I had added (x-5) / 60 and 1/6 and then subtracted it from x/60 to find out the percent change. But I am not getting the answer.


Please help
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by selango » Tue Sep 14, 2010 9:40 am
Total distance=X miles

First part
----------------
D1=5 miles

S1=30 miles/hr

T1=5/30

Second part
-----------------

D2=x-5

S1=60 miles/hr

T2=x-5/60


T1+T2=5/30+(x-5)/60=(x+5)/60

Ta=(x+5)/60 hr

constant Speed
------------------------

D=X miles

S=60 miles

Tb=x/60 hr

(x+5)/60=x/60[1+a/100]

x+5/x=1+a/100

5/x=a/100

a=500/x%

Pick E
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by diebeatsthegmat » Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:35 am
sanalnnair wrote:During a trip on an expressway, Don drove a total of x miles. His average speed on a certain 5-mile section of the expressway was 30 miles/hr, and his average speed for the remainder of the trip was 60miles per hour. His travel time for the x -mile trip was what percent greater than it would have been if he had traveled at a constant rate of 60 miles per hour for the entire trip??

1) 8.5%

2) 50%

3) x/12 %

4) 60/x %

5) 500/x %


Source - GMAT Prep.

I don't know the answer.


Please explain the steps needed to solve this question.


In this question I had solved it as, since 5miles he traveled in 30 miles/hr, therefore his time was 1 / 6 hr.

Again he traveled remaining (x-5) miles in 60 miles/hr. Then his time is (x-5) / 60

Then I had added (x-5) / 60 and 1/6 and then subtracted it from x/60 to find out the percent change. But I am not getting the answer.


Please help
ehh you mistook the x-5 part
1/6 or 5/30 is right ( first of all)
it traveled 5 miles with S=30 and x-5 miles with speed 60
=> total time = 5/30+(x-5)/60=(x+5)/60
the time it takes to travel x distance with speed 60 for the whole strip is x/60
so the percent will be
[(x+5)/60-x/60]/(x/60) *100%=E
hope it helps

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by sanalnnair » Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:42 am
@ diebeatsthe gmat, @ Selango


Thanks guys for your explanations.. it was my mistake, I was little confused..