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# A cyclist travels 20 miles at a speed of 15 miles per hour.

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A cyclist travels 20 miles at a speed of 15 miles per hour. [#permalink]

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08 Jul 2012, 01:58
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A cyclist travels 20 miles at a speed of 15 miles per hour. If he returns along the same path and the entire trip takes 2 hours, at what speed did he return?

(A) 15 mph
(B) 20 mph
(C) 22 mph
(D) 30 mph
(E) 34 mph
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

Last edited by Bunuel on 08 Jul 2012, 02:42, edited 1 time in total.
Edited the question.

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Re: A cyclist travels 20 miles [#permalink]

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08 Jul 2012, 02:15
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farukqmul wrote:
A cyclist travels 20 miles at a speed of 15 miles per hour. If he returns along the same path
and the entire trip takes 2 hours, at what speed did he return?
(A) 15 mph (B) 20 mph (C) 22 mph (D) 30 mph (E) 34 mph

Hi,

we know that $$speed = \frac {distance}{time}$$
$$time(2hours) = \frac {20}{15}+\frac {20}{v}$$
or $$v= \frac {20}{2- \frac 43}$$
or $$v= 30$$

Regards,

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Re: A cyclist travels 20 miles at a speed of 15 miles per hour. [#permalink]

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08 Jul 2012, 19:05

There is another way to approach this problem, however--backsolving. Because the answers are numbers in ascending order, and because the task we are assigned is simple (not the same as easy! A speed is simple, the sum of the squares of two speeds would be complex), we can plug those numbers back into the task to see if they work.

With backsolving, it's useful to start at B or D. This maximized our chances of getting the answer right on the first try. If B is too big, or if D is too small, then we immediately know that A or E is correct, respectively.

But B clearly doesn't work here. The total distance traveled is 40 miles, and the total time is two hours. The average speed for the whole trip needs to be 40/2 = 20 mph, so 20 for only the second half won't cut it.

Let's try (D). 20 miles at 15 miles/hour takes 4/3 of an hour. 20 miles at (D) 30 miles/hour takes half that time, 2/3 of an hour. So the whole trip takes 6/3 = 2 hours, just what we wanted!

You may think, "How lucky!" but actually luck played no part. After all, what if we'd been wrong? Well, if we'd spend too little time making the trip, we'd have known that 30 was too fast. Since 20 was too slow, we could have marked (C) as correct without doing a bit of math! And similarly, if we'd been to slow even at 30, we could have just mark (E) and been done. Part of the power of backsolving as a strategy is the ability to use the answer choices as a powerful problem-solving tool.

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Prepare with Kaplan and save $150 on a course! Kaplan Reviews Kudos [?]: 301 [0], given: 2 Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 7676 Kudos [?]: 17380 [4], given: 232 Location: Pune, India Re: A cyclist travels 20 miles at a speed of 15 miles per hour. [#permalink] ### Show Tags 08 Jul 2012, 20:47 4 This post received KUDOS Expert's post farukqmul wrote: A cyclist travels 20 miles at a speed of 15 miles per hour. If he returns along the same path and the entire trip takes 2 hours, at what speed did he return? (A) 15 mph (B) 20 mph (C) 22 mph (D) 30 mph (E) 34 mph Let me add another method: Use logic! He travels 20 miles at a speed of 15 mph so he takes 20/15 = 4/3 hrs to travel one way. Since total time is 2 hrs, he must have taken 2 - 4/3 = 2/3 hrs while returning. Speed while returning = 20/(2/3) = 30 mph (It's pretty much what cyberjadugar did but thinking in terms of equations can be a little frustrating during the test.) _________________ Karishma Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor My Blog Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for$199

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Re: A cyclist travels 20 miles at a speed of 15 miles per hour. [#permalink]

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19 Jul 2012, 04:16
A cyclist travels 20 miles at a speed of 15 miles per hour

Time taken while going= Distance/Speed = 20/15 hrs = (4/3)hrs

Total time = 2hours

Time taken while returning = total - time taken while going = 2 - 4/3 = (2/3)hrs

Distance = 20miles
Time = (2/3)hrs

Speed = Distance/Time = 20/ (2/3) = 30 miles/hr

Hope it helps!
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Re: A cyclist travels 20 miles at a speed of 15 miles per hour. [#permalink]

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Re: A cyclist travels 20 miles at a speed of 15 miles per hour.   [#permalink] 23 Aug 2014, 20:53
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