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Guaranteed Now free for 30 days Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • Free Veritas GMAT Class Experience Lesson 1 Live Free Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • 5-Day Free Trial 5-day free, full-access trial TTP Quant Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • 1 Hour Free BEAT THE GMAT EXCLUSIVE Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • Get 300+ Practice Questions 25 Video lessons and 6 Webinars for FREE Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • Magoosh Study with Magoosh GMAT prep Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • Free Practice Test & Review How would you score if you took the GMAT Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • 5 Day FREE Trial Study Smarter, Not Harder Available with Beat the GMAT members only code ## Triathlete Dan tagged by: Brent@GMATPrepNow This topic has 5 expert replies and 4 member replies j_shreyans Legendary Member Joined 07 Aug 2014 Posted: 510 messages Followed by: 5 members Upvotes: 3 #### Triathlete Dan Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:06 am Triathlete Dan runs along a 2-mile stretch of river and then swims back along the same route. If Dan runs at a rate of 10 miles per hour and swims at a rate of 6 miles per hour, what is his average rate for the entire trip in miles per minute? A)1/8 B)2/15 C)3/15 D)1/4 E)3/8 OAA Joey N Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts Joined 31 Jul 2013 Posted: 7 messages Upvotes: 1 Wed Oct 15, 2014 4:49 am Sorry, double post _________________ Want to 3x your study, time, and results on the GMAT? Free report shows you how to get explosive growth on the GMAT. Get it here: https://bit.ly/GMATleverage ### Top Member GMATinsight Legendary Member Joined 10 May 2014 Posted: 1044 messages Followed by: 23 members Upvotes: 205 Wed Oct 15, 2014 7:49 am If getting the quick answer is a concern then I would attempt this question by a straight concept Average Speed when the distance is constant in to and fro motion = 2ab / (a+b) = 2x10x6 / (10+6) = 120/16 = 15/2 Miles/hour = 15/(2x60) Miles/Min = 1/8 Miles/Min Answer: Option A Time taken to solve : 10 Seconds _________________ Bhoopendra Singh & Sushma Jha - Founder "GMATinsight" Testimonials e-mail: info@GMATinsight.com I Mobile: +91-9999687183 / +91-9891333772 To register for One-on-One FREE ONLINE DEMO Class Call/e-mail One-On-One Private tutoring fee - US$40 per hour & for FULL COURSE (38 LIVE Sessions)-US$1000 ### GMAT/MBA Expert Rich.C@EMPOWERgmat.com Elite Legendary Member Joined 23 Jun 2013 Posted: 9320 messages Followed by: 478 members Upvotes: 2867 GMAT Score: 800 Sun Oct 12, 2014 11:24 am Hi j_shreyans, This is a "distance formula" question (that also involves average speed) that gives you all of the information that you need to answer the question, so you just have to plug the numbers into the formulas: Distance = Rate x Time Running: 2 miles = (10 miles/hr)(T) 2/10 = T 1/5 hour = Time to run Swimming: 2 miles = (6 miles/hr)(T) 2/6 = T 1/3 hour = Time to swim Total time = 1/5 + 1/3 = 8/15 hours For this last series of steps, we have to pay very careful attention the specifics of the question. It asks for average rate in MILES PER MINUTE ( NOT miles per hour), so we'll have to do a little more work to get the answer. Average Speed for the entire trip IN MILES PER MINUTE Total Distance = (Average Speed) x (Total Time) 4 miles = (Av. Sp.)(8/15 hours) 4(15/8) = Av. Sp. 15/2 miles per HOUR = Av. Sp. Since there are 60 minutes per hour, we have to divide this speed by 60... (15/2)/60 = miles per MINUTE 1/8 miles per MINUTE Final Answer: A GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich _________________ Contact Rich at Rich.C@empowergmat.com ### GMAT/MBA Expert Matt@VeritasPrep GMAT Instructor Joined 12 Sep 2012 Posted: 2637 messages Followed by: 114 members Upvotes: 625 Target GMAT Score: V51 GMAT Score: 780 Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:56 pm Let's break it up into pieces. We'll change the rates to miles per minute by dividing each rate by 60. Swimming: D = 2 R = 1/10 Time = D/R = 2/(1/10) = 20 minutes Running: D = 2 R = 1/6 Time = D/R = 2/(1/6) = 12 minutes He travels 4 miles in 32 minutes. This reduces to 1 mile in 8 minutes, or 1/8 of a mile per minute, so the answer is A. Enroll in a Veritas Prep GMAT class completely for FREE. Wondering if a GMAT course is right for you? Attend the first class session of an actual GMAT course, either in-person or live online, and see for yourself why so many students choose to work with Veritas Prep. Find a class now! ### GMAT/MBA Expert GMATGuruNY GMAT Instructor Joined 25 May 2010 Posted: 14044 messages Followed by: 1813 members Upvotes: 13060 GMAT Score: 790 Mon Oct 13, 2014 2:45 am j_shreyans wrote: Triathlete Dan runs along a 2-mile stretch of river and then swims back along the same route. If Dan runs at a rate of 10 miles per hour and swims at a rate of 6 miles per hour, what is his average rate for the entire trip in miles per minute? A)1/8 B)2/15 C)3/15 D)1/4 E)3/8 The distance traveled in each direction can be ANY VALUE. Let the distance in each direction = 30 miles. At a rate of 10mph, the time spent running = d/r = 30/10 = 3 hours. At a rate of 6mph, the time spent swimming = d/r = 30/6 = 5 hours. Average rate for the entire trip = (total distance)/(total time) = (30+30)/(3+5) = 60/8 = 15/2 miles per hour. Since 15/2 miles is traveled each hour, 1/60 of this distance is traveled each minute: (1/60)(15/2) = 1/8 miles per minute. The correct answer is A. _________________ Mitch Hunt GMAT Private Tutor GMATGuruNY@gmail.com If you find one of my posts helpful, please take a moment to click on the "UPVOTE" icon. Available for tutoring in NYC and long-distance. For more information, please email me at GMATGuruNY@gmail.com. Free GMAT Practice Test How can you improve your test score if you don't know your baseline score? Take a free online practice exam. Get started on achieving your dream score today! Sign up now. ### GMAT/MBA Expert Brent@GMATPrepNow GMAT Instructor Joined 08 Dec 2008 Posted: 11419 messages Followed by: 1229 members Upvotes: 5254 GMAT Score: 770 Tue Oct 14, 2014 8:42 am j_shreyans wrote: Triathlete Dan runs along a 2-mile stretch of river and then swims back along the same route. If Dan runs at a rate of 10 miles per hour and swims at a rate of 6 miles per hour, what is his average rate for the entire trip in miles per minute? A)1/8 B)2/15 C)3/15 D)1/4 E)3/8 OAA Average speed = (total distance)/(total time) We know the total distance = 4 miles The total time consists of two parts: Let's begin with a "word equation" TOTAL time = (time spent running) + (time spent swimming) time = distance/speed So, time spent running = 2/10 = 1/5 hours = 12 minutes time spent swimming = 2/6 = 1/3 hours = 20 minutes TOTAL time = (12 minutes) + (20 minutes) = 32 minutes AVERAGE speed = (total distance)/(total time) = (4 miles)/(32 minutes) = 1/8 miles/minute = A Cheers, Brent _________________ Brent Hanneson â€“ Founder of GMATPrepNow.com Use our video course along with Check out the online reviews of our course Come see all of our free resources GMAT Prep Now's comprehensive video course can be used in conjunction with Beat The GMATâ€™s FREE 60-Day Study Guide and reach your target score in 2 months! ### Top Member GMATinsight Legendary Member Joined 10 May 2014 Posted: 1044 messages Followed by: 23 members Upvotes: 205 Wed Oct 15, 2014 4:08 am j_shreyans wrote: Triathlete Dan runs along a 2-mile stretch of river and then swims back along the same route. If Dan runs at a rate of 10 miles per hour and swims at a rate of 6 miles per hour, what is his average rate for the entire trip in miles per minute? A)1/8 B)2/15 C)3/15 D)1/4 E)3/8 OAA CONCEPT: AVERAGE SPEED = TOTAL DISTANCE / TOTAL TIME Total Distance Traveled = 2 (Running) + 2 (Swimming) = 4 miles Total Time (Distance/Speed) Taken = (2/10) (Running) + (2/6) (Swimming) = (6+10)/30 = 16/30 = 8/15 Average Speed = 4 / (8/15) = 15/2 (Miles/Hour) Average Speed = (15/2) x (1/60) = 1/8 Miles/Minute Answer: Option A _________________ Bhoopendra Singh & Sushma Jha - Founder "GMATinsight" Testimonials e-mail: info@GMATinsight.com I Mobile: +91-9999687183 / +91-9891333772 To register for One-on-One FREE ONLINE DEMO Class Call/e-mail One-On-One Private tutoring fee - US$40 per hour & for FULL COURSE (38 LIVE Sessions)-US\$1000

Joey N Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Joined
31 Jul 2013
Posted:
7 messages
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Wed Oct 15, 2014 4:49 am
All of the above approaches are solid - but man, that's not at all how I would do this.

There is a MUCH easier way - but it takes some out of the box thinking.

The first thing is to remember that on problem solving you have a HUGE asset - the answer has to be one of the 5 options given to you.

So....

The first thing I'd do is convert each answer into miles per hour (easier to think about since the problem is already in mph - why make your life harder by converting into miles/min - SILLY! Don't do it!!!)

A) (1/8) * 60 = 60/8 = like 7.something (don't need to be accurate - it's actually 7.5 - but we are only looking for some quick rough math)

B) (2/15)*60 = (quick mental reduction leaves 2*(60/15) -> 2*4 = 8

C) similar to B -> 12

D) 60/4 = 15

E) 3 * answer A = so 21"ish"

Now, just VISUALIZE the problem right?

The answer just HAS to be between 10mph and 6mph for it to even be reasonable.

Therefore, eliminate C, D, E

Now, 8 mph is the average of 10 and 6, but that's too easy AND you know that on the 10mph leg of the trip - you'll get done faster - so the average speed should be closer to 6 than to 10. (Does that make sense to you?)

BAM!!!

A is the only answer left.

I friggin love the GMAT when it gives softballs like this - but you've got to frame the questions the right way.

Wanna learn how to take apart the test in this way? Shoot me a pm or email me at joey@strategicgmat.com

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### GMAT/MBA Expert

Scott@TargetTestPrep GMAT Instructor
Joined
25 Apr 2015
Posted:
891 messages
Followed by:
6 members
43
Wed Dec 13, 2017 4:52 pm
j_shreyans wrote:
Triathlete Dan runs along a 2-mile stretch of river and then swims back along the same route. If Dan runs at a rate of 10 miles per hour and swims at a rate of 6 miles per hour, what is his average rate for the entire trip in miles per minute?

A)1/8
B)2/15
C)3/15
D)1/4
E)3/8
We are given that Dan runs at a rate of 10 mph for 2 miles and then swims back the same 2 miles at a rate of 6 mph. Thus, Danâ€™s running time is 2/10 = 1/5 of an hour and his swimming time is 2/6 = 1/3 of an hour.

Now we can solve for his average rate:

average rate = (total distance)/(total time)

average rate = (2 + 2)/(1/5 + 1/3)

average rate = 4/(8/15) = 60/8 = 30/4 miles per hour (or 30 miles/4 hours)

Now we can convert this rate to minutes. Since 4 hours = 4 x 60 = 240 minutes, so the rate in miles per minute is:

30/240 = 1/8 mile per minute.

_________________
Scott Woodbury-Stewart Founder and CEO

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