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

Redeem

Tom drives from town A to town B, driving at a constant

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Moderator
Posts: 2505
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2017 1:50 pm
Followed by:6 members

Tom drives from town A to town B, driving at a constant

by BTGmoderatorLU » Tue Oct 23, 2018 4:26 pm

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

Source: Economist GMAT

Tom drives from town A to town B, driving at a constant speed of 60 miles per hour. From town, B Tom immediately continues to town C. The distance between A and B is twice the distance between B and C. If the average speed of the whole journey was 36 mph, then what is Tom's speed driving from B to C in miles per hour?

A. 12
B. 20
C. 24
D. 30
E. 36

The OA is B.
Top
Source: — Problem Solving |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3008
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 6:19 am
Location: Grand Central / New York
Thanked: 470 times
Followed by:34 members

by Jay@ManhattanReview » Wed Oct 24, 2018 8:57 pm
BTGmoderatorLU wrote:Source: Economist GMAT

Tom drives from town A to town B, driving at a constant speed of 60 miles per hour. From town, B Tom immediately continues to town C. The distance between A and B is twice the distance between B and C. If the average speed of the whole journey was 36 mph, then what is Tom's speed driving from B to C in miles per hour?

A. 12
B. 20
C. 24
D. 30
E. 36

The OA is B.
The situation is depicted below.

A -------------------60 mph / 2D miles -----------------------B-----------x mph / D miles------------C

Say the distance of BC = x miles, thus, the distance AB = 2x miles. Say the speed between BC is x miles.

"¢ Time taken to travel AC = 3D/36 = D/12 hours;
"¢ Time taken to travel AB = 2D/60 = D/30 hours;
"¢ Time taken to travel BC = D/x = D/x hours

=> D/12 = D/30 + D/x

1/12 = 1/30 + 1/x

=> x = 20 mph

The correct answer: B

Hope this helps!

-Jay
_________________
Manhattan Review GMAT Prep

Locations: Hyderabad | Kukatpally | Bangalore | Anna Nagar | and many more...

Schedule your free consultation with an experienced GMAT Prep Advisor! Click here.
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Thu Oct 25, 2018 2:32 am
BTGmoderatorLU wrote:Source: Economist GMAT

Tom drives from town A to town B, driving at a constant speed of 60 miles per hour. From town, B Tom immediately continues to town C. The distance between A and B is twice the distance between B and C. If the average speed of the whole journey was 36 mph, then what is Tom's speed driving from B to C in miles per hour?

A. 12
B. 20
C. 24
D. 30
E. 36
Let the distance between A and B = 120 miles.
Since the 120-mile distance between A and B is twice the distance between B and C, the distance between B and C = 60 miles, implying that the total distance = 120+60 = 180 miles.

Since the average speed for the 120-mile leg between A and B = 60 mph, the time to travel from A to B = d/r = 120/60 = 2 hours.
Since the average speed for the entire 180-mile trip = 36 mph, the time to travel the entire trip = d/r = 180/36 = 5 hours.

Time to travel from B to C = (time for the entire trip) - (time to travel from A to B) = 5-2 = 3 hours.
Since it takes 3 hours to travel the 60-mile leg between B and C, the driving speed from B to C = d/t = 60/3 = 20 mph.

The correct answer is B.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1449
Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 2:16 pm
Thanked: 59 times
Followed by:33 members

Tom drives from town A to town B, driving at a constant spee

by fskilnik@GMATH » Thu Oct 25, 2018 6:49 am
BTGmoderatorLU wrote:Source: Economist GMAT

Tom drives from town A to town B, driving at a constant speed of 60 miles per hour. From town, B Tom immediately continues to town C. The distance between A and B is twice the distance between B and C. If the average speed of the whole journey was 36 mph, then what is Tom's speed driving from B to C in miles per hour?

A. 12
B. 20
C. 24
D. 30
E. 36
$$?\,\, = \,\,\,{V_{B \to C}}\,\,\,\,\,\,\left[ {\,{\rm{mph}}\,} \right]$$
Let´s use UNITS CONTROL, one of the most powerful tools of our method!
$${\rm{Let}}\,\,B \to C = 180\,\,{\rm{miles}}\,\,\,\,\,\left[ {\,180 = LCM\left( {60,36} \right)\,} \right]$$
$$\left. \matrix{
\left. {\matrix{
{A \to B} \cr
{2 \cdot 180\,\,{\rm{miles}}\,\,} \cr

} } \right\}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,2 \cdot 180\,\,{\rm{miles}}\,\,\, \cdot \,\,\,\left( {{{1\,\,{\rm{h}}} \over {60\,\,{\rm{miles}}}}} \right)\,\,\,\, = \,\,\,\,6\,\,\,{\rm{h}}\,\,\, \hfill \cr
\left. {\matrix{
{B \to C} \cr
{180\,\,{\rm{miles}}\,\,} \cr

} } \right\}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,180\,\,{\rm{miles}}\,\,\, \cdot \,\,\,\left( {{{1\,\,{\rm{h}}} \over {{V_{B \to C}}\,\,{\rm{miles}}}}} \right)\,\,\,\, = \,\,\,\,{{180} \over {{V_{B \to C}}}}\,\,\,{\rm{h}}\,\,\,\,\, \hfill \cr
\left. {\matrix{
{A \to C} \cr
{3 \cdot 180\,\,{\rm{miles}}\,\,} \cr

} } \right\}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,3 \cdot 180\,\,{\rm{miles}}\,\,\, \cdot \,\,\,\left( {{{1\,\,{\rm{h}}} \over {36\,\,{\rm{miles}}}}} \right)\,\,\,\, = \,\,\,\,15\,\,\,{\rm{h}} \hfill \cr} \right\}\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,6 + {{180} \over {{V_{B \to C}}}} = 15\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,{{180} \over {{V_{B \to C}}}} = 9\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,?\,\, = \,\,{V_{B \to C}} = 20\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\left[ {\rm{h}} \right]$$

This solution follows the notations and rationale taught in the GMATH method.

Regards,
Fabio.
Fabio Skilnik :: GMATH method creator ( Math for the GMAT)
English-speakers :: https://www.gmath.net
Portuguese-speakers :: https://www.gmath.com.br
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
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 » Thu Oct 25, 2018 8:21 am
BTGmoderatorLU wrote:Source: Economist GMAT

Tom drives from town A to town B, driving at a constant speed of 60 miles per hour. From town, B Tom immediately continues to town C. The distance between A and B is twice the distance between B and C. If the average speed of the whole journey was 36 mph, then what is Tom's speed driving from B to C in miles per hour?

A. 12
B. 20
C. 24
D. 30
E. 36
We can let the distance between B and C = d, and thus the distance between A and B = 2d. We can let r = Tom's speed driving from B to C, in miles per hour, and create the equation:

(2d + d)/(2d/60 + d/r) = 36

3d/(d/30 + d/r) = 36

3d = 36d/30 + 36d/r

3 = 6/5 + 36/r

Multiplying both sides of the equation by 5r, we have:

15r = 6r + 180

9r = 180

r = 20

Answer: B

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO
[email protected]

Image

See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews

ImageImage
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1