Train A and Train B began traveling towards each other from

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AAPL: Moderator; Posts: 2599; Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 2:08 pm; Followed by:2 members

Train A and Train B began traveling towards each other from

by AAPL » Thu Feb 28, 2019 5:35 am

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Veritas Prep

Train A and Train B began traveling towards each other from opposite ends of a 500-mile long track at 1:00 PM. If Train A traveled at 35 miles per hour and Train B traveled at 25 miles per hour, at what time did the trains meet?

A. 5:40 PM
B. 6:00 PM
C. 7:20 PM
D. 8:00 PM
E. 9:20 PM

OA E

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Thu Feb 28, 2019 5:35 am

GMAT/MBA Expert

Brent@GMATPrepNow: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 16207; Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm; Location: Vancouver, BC; Thanked: 5254 times; Followed by:1268 members; GMAT Score:770

Train A and Train B began traveling towards each other from

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Thu Feb 28, 2019 5:42 am

AAPL wrote:Train A and Train B began traveling towards each other from opposite ends of a 500-mile long track at 1:00 PM. If Train A traveled at 35 miles per hour and Train B traveled at 25 miles per hour, at what time did the trains meet?

A. 5:40 PM
B. 6:00 PM
C. 7:20 PM
D. 8:00 PM
E. 9:20 PM

This is a SHRINKING GAP question.

Train A traveled at 35 miles per hour and Train B traveled at 25 miles per hour,
35 mph + 25 mph = 60 mph
So, the gap CLOSES at a rate of 60 mph

Train A and Train B began traveling towards each other from opposite ends of a 500-mile long track at 1:00 PM
We need to reduce the gap from 500 miles to 0 miles
In other words, we must close the gap a total of 500 miles

At what time did the trains meet?
time = distance/rate
= 500 miles/60 mph
= 50/6
= 25/3
= 8 1/3 hours
= 8 hours and 20 minutes

So, if the trains started at 1:00 pm, then the time the trains MET = 1:00 pm + (8 hours and 20 minutes)
= 9:20 pm

Answer: E

Cheers,
Brent

Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com

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Scott@TargetTestPrep: 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 » Mon Mar 04, 2019 7:05 pm

AAPL wrote:Veritas Prep

Train A and Train B began traveling towards each other from opposite ends of a 500-mile long track at 1:00 PM. If Train A traveled at 35 miles per hour and Train B traveled at 25 miles per hour, at what time did the trains meet?

A. 5:40 PM
B. 6:00 PM
C. 7:20 PM
D. 8:00 PM
E. 9:20 PM

OA E

We are given that Trains A and B traveled toward each other at 1 p.m. and that Train A traveled at 35 miles per hour and Train B traveled at 25 miles per hour. We are also given that they started 500 miles apart.

We can let the time of each train = t hours. Thus, the distance of Train A is 35t and the distance of Train B is 25t.

Let's create the following equation to determine t:

distance of Train A + distance of Train B = total distance

35t + 25t = 500

60t = 500

t = 500/60 = 50/6 = 25/3 = 8 â…“ hours = 8 hours and 20 minutes.

Thus, the trains met at 1 p.m. + 8 hours and 20 minutes = 9:20 p.m.

Alternate Solution:

Since the trains are moving towards each other, the distance between the two trains will decrease by 35 + 25 = 60 miles each hour. Since they were 500 miles apart, it will take them 500/60 = 25/3 = 8 1/3 hours or, 8 hours 20 minutes to meet. Thus, the trains meet at 1 p.m. + 8 hours and 20 minutes = 9:20 p.m.

Answer: E

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