A boat traveled a total of 600 miles in two days. If the

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swerve: Legendary Member; Posts: 2499; Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 2:04 pm; Followed by:6 members

A boat traveled a total of 600 miles in two days. If the

by swerve » Tue May 15, 2018 9:54 am

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A boat traveled a total of 600 miles in two days. If the distance it traveled on the first day was 150 miles less than twice the distance it traveled on the second day, what was the distance, in miles, that it traveled on the second day?

A. 250
B. 275
C. 350
D. 375
E. 450

The OA is A.

Please, can anyone explain this PS question? I can't get the correct answer. I need help. Thanks.

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Tue May 15, 2018 9:54 am

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Sionainn@PrincetonReview: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 41; Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2018 9:54 am; Followed by:1 members

by Sionainn@PrincetonReview » Tue May 15, 2018 12:34 pm

There are a couple different ways of solving this one.

One option is to plug in the answers. The answer choices represent the amount traveled on the 2nd day. Start with the middle choice and assume that 350 miles were traveled on the 2nd day. If the total miles traveled is 600, then 250 miles were traveled the 1st day. But 250 isn't 150 miles less than two times 350. So this doesn't fit the second piece of information given. So this isn't correct. Eliminate choice C. Now try choice B. If 275 miles were traveled on the 2nd day, then 325 miles were traveled the 1st day. But 325 isn't 150 miles less than two times 275. So this doesn't fit the second piece of information given. So this isn't correct. Eliminate choice B. We are getting closer though so we are going in the right direction. ow try choice A. If 250 miles were traveled on the 2nd day, then 350 miles were traveled the 1st day. 350 is 150 miles less than two times 250. This fits the second piece of information given. So this is correct and the answer is choice A.

You can also solve this algebraically. If x = miles traveled the 1st day and y = miles traveled the 2nd day, then you can use the following equations x + y = 600 and x = 2y - 150. Substitute x with 2y - 150 in the first equation to get 2y - 150 + y = 600. Then solve for y.

2y - 150 + y = 600
3y - 150 = 600
3y = 750
y = 250

So the answer is A.

Take care,
Sionainn

BA - Stanford University, MPP - Harvard University
Instructor, tutor for Princeton Review and Airbnb host
In other words a blend of Jamie Escalante from Stand and Deliver, Julie from The Love Boat, and Schneider the Super from One Day at a Time.

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Brent@GMATPrepNow: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 16207; Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm; Location: Vancouver, BC; Thanked: 5254 times; Followed by:1268 members; GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Tue May 15, 2018 1:13 pm

swerve wrote:A boat traveled a total of 600 miles in two days. If the distance it traveled on the first day was 150 miles less than twice the distance it traveled on the second day, what was the distance, in miles, that it traveled on the second day?

A. 250
B. 275
C. 350
D. 375
E. 450

Let F = number of miles traveled on first day
Let S = number of miles traveled on second day

A boat traveled a total of 600 miles in two days.
So, we can write: F + S = 600

The distance it traveled on the first day was 150 miles less than twice the distance it traveled on the second day
So, we can write: F = 2S - 150

We now have two equations:
F + S = 600
F = 2S - 150

Take the top equation and subtract S from both sides to get: F = 600 - S

Now take F = 2S - 150 and replace F with 600 - S to get....
600 - S = 2S - 150 [now solve for S]
Add S to both sides: 600 = 3S - 150
Add 150 to both sides: 750 = 3S
Solve: S = 250

Answer: A

Cheers,
Brent

Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com

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Scott@TargetTestPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 8086; Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 am; Location: Los Angeles, CA; Thanked: 43 times; Followed by:29 members

by Scott@TargetTestPrep » Tue May 29, 2018 6:45 am

swerve wrote:A boat traveled a total of 600 miles in two days. If the distance it traveled on the first day was 150 miles less than twice the distance it traveled on the second day, what was the distance, in miles, that it traveled on the second day?

A. 250
B. 275
C. 350
D. 375
E. 450

We can let d = distance traveled on the second day. Thus, the distance traveled on the first day = 2d - 150. We can create the equation:

2d - 150 + d = 600

3d = 750

d = 250

Answer: A

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
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