4.5 miles/gallon = 9/2 miles/gallon at 55 mph
3.5 miles/gallon = 7/2 miles/gallon at 60 mph
500/120 = 4.1667 = 4(1/6) = 25/6 miles/gallon average

Note that we are taking the average of miles/gallon. The weights will be gallons, not miles.
Check this post: https://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2014/1 ... -averages/

w1/w2 = (A2 - Aavg)/(Aavg - A1) = (7/2 - 25/6) / (25/6 - 9/2) = (-4/6) / (-1/6) = 2/1

So gallons consumed were in the ratio 2:1 for the two speeds of 55 and 60. Total 120 gallons were consumed so 80 gallons at 55 mph and 40 gallons at 60 mph.
To use 80 gallons, he must have traveled 80*4.5 = 360 miles

Answer (E)
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Let the truck travels x miles at 55mph and remaining 500-x miles at 60mph

For 1 mile, at 55mph, number of gallons used = 1/4.5
For x miles, number of gallons used = x/4.5 = 2x/9

For 1 mile, at 60mph, number of gallons used = 1/3.5
For 500-x miles, number of gallons used = (500 - x)/3.5 = 2(500 - x)/7

Given, Total gallons used = 120
--> 2x/9 + (1000 - 2x)/7 = 120
--> (14x + 9000 - 18x)/63 = 120
--> 9000 - 4x = 7560
--> 4x = 1440
--> x = 360

IMO Option E

Hello VeritasKarishma
I hope you are doing well.

Your method has worked so far so well for me but when I try in this question, it seems to not work.
Average miles=500/120= 4.17 milles/ Gallon

Let 55milies case be A and 60 miles be B.

To find the ratio of A and B= (3.5-4.17)/(4.17-4.5)= 2/1
At 55 miles per hour, the trust traveled 333.33 miles.
I am sure I am missing something. please help check.

VeritasKarishma,
Thank you
Learning this method has been the best thing.

Alternate Method (Also using Weighted Averages)

Method 2:

If the truck went with 55 miles/hr for the whole journey, then it would have gone 4.5 m/g *120 g/tank = 540 miles/tank -> Speed 2
If the truck went with 60 miles/hr for the whole journey, then it would have gone 3.5 m/g *120 g/tank = 420 miles/tank -> Speed 1

Using the w1/w2 formula (where average = 500 miles/tank; weight = tank)

w1/w2 = (A2 - Aavg)/(Aavg - A1) = (540 - 500)/(500 - 420) = 40/80 = 1/2

So while travelling at 55 mph, 2/3 tank * 120 g/tank = 80 g was consumed.
To use 80 gallons, he must have traveled 80*4.5 = 360 miles

Method 3: Slowest & Too many calculations

Let distance travelled by 55miles/hr speed be X
Then distance travelled by 60miles/hr speed be 500-X
500m/120g = 500m/((Xm/4.5m/g) + (500-X)m/(3.5m/g))
1/120 = 500/(2X/9 + 2(500-X)/7)
(14x + 500*18 -18X)/63 = 120
-4X = 120 * 63
4X = 500*18 - 120*63 = 4 (125*18 - 30*63)
X = 125*18 - 30*63
X = 360

Alternative Method: We can use the answer choice to determine the correct answer.

Let's pick B first:
If the truck traveled 200 miles at 55 mph, then it traveled 300 miles at 60 mph.

That means the truck used 200/4.5 gallons of gas at 55 mph, and 300/3.5 gallons of gas at 60.
When you reduce those fractions, you get 400/9 and 600/7
Adding those together, you get approximately 44+86 = 130 total gallons, which is too much.
This means that the truck drove MORE than 200 miles at 55 mph, so A and B are out

Let's pick D next:
If the truck traveled 300 miles at 55 mph, then it traveled 200 miles at 60 mph.
That means the truck used 300/4.5 gallons of gas at 55 mph, and 200/3.5 gallons of gas at 60.
When you reduce those fractions, you get 600/9 and 400/7
Adding those together, you get approximately 67+57 = 124 total gallons, which is STILL too much.

So E has to be the correct answer!