Rate of typing

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ssmiles08: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 472; Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:54 pm; Thanked: 56 times

by ssmiles08 » Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:40 pm

Two secretaries type at even but different paces. One types with speed of 80 characters per minute, the other, a beginner, can only type 30 characters per minute. The beginner starts earlier, and some time later the experienced secretary manages to type the same number of characters as the beginner. Then, the experienced secretary manages to type 800 characters more when her computer breaks down. How long, in hours does it take for the beginner to reach the same number of characters?

(A) 53/180
(B) 4/9
(C) 13/18
(D) 15/23
(E) 5/18

Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:40 pm

dmateer25: Community Manager; Posts: 1049; Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 5:15 pmFollowed by: 27 members; Location: Pittsburgh, PA; Thanked: 113 times; GMAT Score:710

by dmateer25 » Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:35 pm

I am coming up with E, 5/18.

The rate of the beginner per hour is 30*60 = 1800

Now what we know from the question is that after the experienced secretary catches the beginning, he/she types an additional 800 characters. This takes the experiences secretary 10 minutes or 1/6 of an hour.

In this 1/6 of an hour, the beginner types 1800 * 1/6 = 300 characters.

So the questions is basically asking us how long does it take the beginner to type 500 characters.

1800x = 500
x = 500/1800
x =5/18

ssmiles08: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 472; Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:54 pm; Thanked: 56 times

by ssmiles08 » Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:45 pm

nice! Thanks dmateer25! The OE was pretty poor.

OA is E

dmateer25: Community Manager; Posts: 1049; Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 5:15 pmFollowed by: 27 members; Location: Pittsburgh, PA; Thanked: 113 times; GMAT Score:710

by dmateer25 » Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:55 pm

ssmiles08 wrote:nice! Thanks dmateer25! The OE was pretty poor.

OA is E

No problem. Just curious, what is the source?

ssmiles08: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 472; Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:54 pm; Thanked: 56 times

by ssmiles08 » Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:58 pm

dmateer25 wrote:
No problem. Just curious, what is the source?

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