99% of the time, you need all information provided in the stimulus. Every once in a while, there is information that is purely descriptive, and may throw students off.

For this question, there variations for which 60 miles may be useful. If they said "Adrienne started walking when John was halfway to y", would be one example.

In general, all info is used, but sometimes just go with your gut.

Thank you grockit_jake..

Here is another problem with the same situation and same solution.

Nicky and Cristina are running a 1000 meter race. Since Cristina is faster than Nicky, she gives him a 12 seconds head start. If Cristina runs at a pace of 5 meter per second and Nicky runs at a pace of only 3 meters per second, how many seconds will Nicky have run before Cristina catches up to him?

(A) 15 seconds.
(B) 18 seconds.
(C) 25 seconds.
(D) 30 seconds.
(E) 45 seconds.

OA is D

Abdulla wrote:One hour after Adrienne started walking the 60 miles from x to y, James started walking from x to y as well. Adrienne walks 3 miles per hour, and James walks 1 mile per hour faster than Adrienne. How far from x will James be when he catches up to Adreinne?

(A) 8 Miles
(B) 9 Miles
(C) 10 Miles
(D) 11 Miles
(E) 12 Miles

We can let James' time = t and Adrienne's time = t + 1. Thus, James' distance is 4t and Adrienne's distance is 3(t + 1) = 3t + 3. Because they have each traveled the same distance when James catches up to Adrienne, we equate their two distances and solve for t:

4t = 3t + 3

t = 3

Therefore, when James catches up to Adrienne, he is 4 x 3 = 12 miles from X.

Answer: E