During a trip, Francine traveled x percent of the total

i am with hardworking on this one. I think the individual who posted forgot to include the final zero on answer E. I plugged in and said that the traveler drove 50%,x, of 120 miles trip at 40 mph and the other half at 60 mph. Therefore the total traveling time was 2.5 hours for 120 miles and the average speed was 48 mph. C comes close but if you add another zero to E, then 250x48=12,000.

Actually, none of the answers is correct.

The correct answer is 120/(x + 2).

Here's the derivation:

Suppose total distance travelled is 1 mile. Then, x and (1-x) become actuall distances travelled and not just percentages.

Total distance travelled = S = x + 1 - x = 1

Total time taken = t = (x/40 mph) + [(1-x)/60 mph] = (3x + 2 - 2x) / 120 = (x+2)/120

Average speed = S / t = 1 / [(x+2)/120] = 120/(x+2)

The other suggested answer: 12000/(x+200) will not work, as x is in percentages/proportions and not actual units.

I stay corrected at 12000/(x+200).

My explanation:
Let the total distance traveled be A.
First Section: Distance = xA/100, Speed = 40, Time = xA/4000
Second Section: Distance = A(100-x)/100, Speed = 60, Time = A(100-x)/6000

Total journey: Distance = A, Time = [xA/4000+ A(100-x)/6000]
Ave. Speed = [A] / [xA/4000+ A(100-x)/6000]
= 12000/(x+200).

Recheck:
For checking back, lets say he travelled a total distance of (A=) 60 miles, and x = 25%
First Section: Distance = 15, Speed = 40, Time = 15/40
Second Section: Distance = 45, Speed = 60, Time = 45/60
Total journey: Distance = 60, Time = 135/120, Ave. Speed = 160/3
Substitute x=25 in 12000/(x+200), you get 160/3

PS:
I had initially taken total distance to be 100 for simplicity in calculation. But took a generic distance of A, just to prove the point.

Well, you're assuming x to be in 100 percentage points. Although that's not what the question said, as long as you're explicitly saying that x is in 100 percentage point, your formula will be correct.

You can get my formula from yours by noticing that x is in 100 percentage points in your formula and dividing the numerator and denominator by 100. My formula is in percent/proportions. That's the only difference.

OOPS!, my mistake , yes it is 12000 and the answer is E infact (1200/x+200)