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

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

Word Problem

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Legendary Member
Posts: 869
Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 3:49 pmFollowed by: 3 members
Location: California
Thanked: 13 times
by heshamelaziry » Fri Nov 27, 2009 11:05 pm
While driving from A-ville to B-town, Harriet drove at a constant speed of 115 kilometers per hour. Upon arriving in B-town, Harriet immediately turned and drove back to A-ville at a constant speed of 135 kilometers per hour. If the entire trip took 5 hours, how many minutes did it take Harriet to drive from A-ville to B-town?

138

148

150

162

168

OA D
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Problem Solving |
User avatar
Community Manager
Posts: 1537
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:10 pmFollowed by: 252 members
Thanked: 653 times

by papgust » Sat Nov 28, 2009 2:19 am
Lets take 2 eqns. with the assumption that
From A to B, it took x hours
From B to A, it took (5-x) hours

Distance, D1 = 115 * x ..... (1)
Distance, D2 = 135 * (5-x) ..... (2)

Equate both equations,

115x = 135 * (5-x)
x = 2.7 hours

Question is to find number of minutes it took from A to B (Which is x hours)
Convert 2.7 hours to minutes = 2.7 * 60 = 162 min.

Hence D.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 434
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Bangalore
Thanked: 6 times
GMAT Score:600

by viju9162 » Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:39 am
good way to solve .. thanks papgust....

I did a mistake taking in this form ..as Speed = distance/time.. therefore, time = distance/speed.

hence, 5 = x/115 + x/135

X is the distance of one side.. I was completly stuck here and couldn't proceed... How will you consider the unknown value ( x) here? Can you please let me know..

Thank you,
Viju
"Native of" is used for a individual while "Native to" is used for a large group
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Community Manager
Posts: 1537
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:10 pmFollowed by: 252 members
Thanked: 653 times

by papgust » Sat Nov 28, 2009 7:07 am
You were doing properly this way. I think you became impatient once you saw a big equation :)

You have this eqn,

5 = x/115 + x/135

Here x is primarily the same for this problem. You can simplify the eqn now,

5 = (135x + 115x)/(115 * 135)
250x = 77625
x = 310.5 (Common Distance)

Calculate the time taken separately,

310.5/115 = 2.7 hours
310.5/135 = 2.3 hours
------------
5 hours
------------

Question asks for time of A to B, so its 2.7 hours and convert it to min.


But, this approach takes a lot of time (Esp. while calculating x). This is the difference basically b/w the 2 approaches.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 434
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Bangalore
Thanked: 6 times
GMAT Score:600

by viju9162 » Sat Nov 28, 2009 7:15 am
ya i didn't proceed further :o looking at the big equation. Thank you :)
"Native of" is used for a individual while "Native to" is used for a large group
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 869
Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 3:49 pmFollowed by: 3 members
Location: California
Thanked: 13 times

by heshamelaziry » Sat Nov 28, 2009 10:38 am
I got stuck exactly the same way viju9162 got stuck
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1