The time it took car A to travel 400 miles was 2 hours less than the time it took car B to travel the same distance. If car A's average speed was 10 miles per hour greater than that of car B, what was car B's average speed in miles per hour?
A. 20
B. 30
C. 40
D. 50
E. 80
The OA is C
Source: GMAT Paper Tests
5-Day Free Trial
5-day free, full-access trial TTP
Available with Beat the GMAT members only code
MORE DETAILS
The time it took car A to travel 400 miles was 2 hours less
This topic has expert replies
GMAT/MBA Expert
-
[email protected]
- Elite Legendary Member
- Posts: 10392
- Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pm
- Location: Palo Alto, CA
- Thanked: 2867 times
- Followed by:511 members
- GMAT Score:800
Hi swerve,
We're told that the time it took car A to travel 400 miles was 2 hours LESS than the time it took car B to travel the same distance and car A's average speed was 10 miles per hour GREATER than that of car B. We're asked for car B's average speed in miles per hour. This question can be approached in a couple of different ways. Since it's essentially about basic arithmetic (re: two 'pairs' of numbers that have a product of 400), you would likely find it fastest to TEST THE ANSWERS.
To start, the difference in the time that the two cars traveled is exactly 2 hours and we know that Car B was going exactly 10 mph slower than Car A. Based on the prompt and the answer choices, we're clearly dealing with nice 'round' numbers, so let's start with an answer that divides evenly into 400...
Let's TEST Answer C: 40 miles/hour
IF.... Car B is traveling 40 mph, then it takes 400/40 = 10 hours to complete that drive.
We're told that Car A's speed is 10 mph greater than Car B's speed, so....
Car A is traveling 50 mph... and that would take 400/50 = 8 hours to complete that drive.
Here, the difference in travel time is exactly 2 hours - and this matches what we were told - so this MUST be the answer.
Final Answer: C
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
We're told that the time it took car A to travel 400 miles was 2 hours LESS than the time it took car B to travel the same distance and car A's average speed was 10 miles per hour GREATER than that of car B. We're asked for car B's average speed in miles per hour. This question can be approached in a couple of different ways. Since it's essentially about basic arithmetic (re: two 'pairs' of numbers that have a product of 400), you would likely find it fastest to TEST THE ANSWERS.
To start, the difference in the time that the two cars traveled is exactly 2 hours and we know that Car B was going exactly 10 mph slower than Car A. Based on the prompt and the answer choices, we're clearly dealing with nice 'round' numbers, so let's start with an answer that divides evenly into 400...
Let's TEST Answer C: 40 miles/hour
IF.... Car B is traveling 40 mph, then it takes 400/40 = 10 hours to complete that drive.
We're told that Car A's speed is 10 mph greater than Car B's speed, so....
Car A is traveling 50 mph... and that would take 400/50 = 8 hours to complete that drive.
Here, the difference in travel time is exactly 2 hours - and this matches what we were told - so this MUST be the answer.
Final Answer: C
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
GMAT/MBA Expert
-
Scott@TargetTestPrep
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 7247
- Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Thanked: 43 times
- Followed by:29 members
We are given that cars A and B both traveled 400 miles and that car A's average speed was 10 mph greater than that of car B. We can let the rate of car B = r and the rate of car A = r + 10.swerve wrote:The time it took car A to travel 400 miles was 2 hours less than the time it took car B to travel the same distance. If car A's average speed was 10 miles per hour greater than that of car B, what was car B's average speed in miles per hour?
A. 20
B. 30
C. 40
D. 50
E. 80
The OA is C
Source: GMAT Paper Tests
Since both cars traveled 400 miles and time = distance/rate, the time of car A is 400/(r+10).
We are also given that it took car A 2 hours less than it took car B to travel the 400 miles. We can set up the following equation:
400/(r+10) + 2 = 400/r
Multiplying the entire equation by r(r+10), we have:
400r + 2(r)(r+10) = 400(r+10)
400r + 2r^2 + 20r = 400r + 4000
2r^2 + 20r - 4000 = 0
r^2 + 10r - 2000 = 0
(r + 50)(r - 40) = 0
r = -50 or r = 40
Since r must be positive, then r = 40.
Answer: C
Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO
[email protected]
See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews
