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# A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average

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A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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Updated on: 30 Oct 2018, 00:09
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Question Stats:

77% (01:56) correct 23% (02:36) wrong based on 1184 sessions

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A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-mile trip? (Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-mile trip.)

(A) 65 mph
(B) 68 mph
(C) 70 mph
(D) 75 mph
(E) 80 mph

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Question: 142
Category: Algebra Applied problems
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Originally posted by Bunuel on 13 Apr 2012, 18:34.
Last edited by Bunuel on 30 Oct 2018, 00:09, edited 3 times in total.
Edited the question
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A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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09 Mar 2014, 14:05
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SOLUTION

A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-mile trip? (Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-mile trip.)

(A) 65 mph
(B) 68 mph
(C) 70 mph
(D) 75 mph
(E) 80 mph

$$average \ speed=\frac{total \ distance}{total \ time}=\frac{40}{total \ time}=60$$. This implies that for the average time to be 60 miles per hour, the total time must be 40/60 = 2/3 hours.

Now, the first 20 miles were covered in (time) = (distance)/(speed) = 20/50 = 2/5 hours.

Thus, the remaining 20 miles should be covered in 2/3 - 2/5 = 4/15 hours, which means that the remaining 20 miles should be covered at an average speed (distance)/(time) = 20/(4/15) = 75 miles per hour.

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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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09 Mar 2014, 18:32
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4

Time = Distance / Speed

Setting up equation as shown in fig
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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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13 Apr 2012, 21:00
2
eybrj2 wrote:
A driver completed the first 20 miles od a 40 miles trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-miles trip? ( Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-miles trip)

a) 65

b) 68

c) 70

d) 75

e) 80

Why not 70?
50 mph + x mph / 2 = 60 mph, so x = 70 since the first 20 miles ans the other 20 miles are the same distnace.
What's wrong with my reasoning?

LET X=20 MILES

x/50+x/y=2x/60
=> 1/y=1/30-1/50=1/75
=>y=75

HENCE D.

P.S.: You are doing direct average/ weighted average of speed, thats wrong. you need to check that the time it takes to cover the two individual 20 miles trip should be equal to the total time its takes to cover 40 miles with average speed 60 mph.

Hope this helps...!!
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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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13 Apr 2012, 23:27
5
1
eybrj2 wrote:
A driver completed the first 20 miles od a 40 miles trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-miles trip? ( Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-miles trip)

a) 65

b) 68

c) 70

d) 75

e) 80

Why not 70?
50 mph + x mph / 2 = 60 mph, so x = 70 since the first 20 miles ans the other 20 miles are the same distnace.
What's wrong with my reasoning?

avg speed = total distance/total time

t1 = 20/50h = 0.4h
t2 = 20/x h

60 = 40/(0.4 + 20/x)

x= 75
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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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21 Oct 2013, 01:14
2
1
eybrj2 wrote:
A driver completed the first 20 miles od a 40 miles trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-miles trip? ( Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-miles trip)

A. 65
B. 68
C. 70
D. 75
E. 80

Why not 70?
50 mph + x mph / 2 = 60 mph, so x = 70 since the first 20 miles ans the other 20 miles are the same distnace.
What's wrong with my reasoning?

Since the distance is same in both stretches of the journey,therefore average speed is Harmonic mean of the speed

Average speed = 2uv/(u + v)

Average speed = 60 ,
U or V = 50

60 = 2*50*v/(50 + v)
3 = 5v/(50 + v)
150 + 3v = 5v
2v=150
v = 75

Hence D
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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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12 Jan 2014, 12:36
1
sem wrote:
A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-mile trip? (Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-mile trip.)

A. 65 mph
B. 68 mph
C. 70 mph
D. 75 mph
E. 80 mph

Basically, the first 20 miles took 24 minutes, so the second 20 miles need to take 16 minutes in order for the average to be 60miles/h..

We need to pick an option from A-E (which we call X), that in the denominator makes 120/(16*x) = 1. Note that the value needs to be divided by 10 before it is multiplied by 16.. The only value that works is D (16 * 7.5 = 120), and thus D is the answer.

Don't even ask me how I came to solve it with this convoluted mumbo jumbo but my brain worked on full gear and at the time that I did this it made perfect sense, even though Im not that good at explaining the whole process in hindsight.
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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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20 Jan 2014, 03:59
2
You can use the "normal" distance/rate approach.

First, divide the trip:
For the whole trip he has to take 40 minutes (2/3 h) because he is driving at an average speed of 60m/h.
So first 20 miles at 50 m/h means that he takes 24 min (2/5 h) for half the distance.
This means that he has to take 16 minutes = 16/60 = 4 / 15 h for the last 20 miles. This gives us the equation:

distance = rate(x) * time
20 = x * 4/15
20*15/4 = x
300/4 = x
75 = x

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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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21 Jan 2014, 16:16
aeglorre wrote:
sem wrote:
A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-mile trip? (Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-mile trip.)

A. 65 mph
B. 68 mph
C. 70 mph
D. 75 mph
E. 80 mph

Basically, the first 20 miles took 24 minutes, so the second 20 miles need to take 16 minutes in order for the average to be 60miles/h..

We need to pick an option from A-E (which we call X), that in the denominator makes 120/(16*x) = 1. Note that the value needs to be divided by 10 before it is multiplied by 16.. The only value that works is D (16 * 7.5 = 120), and thus D is the answer.

Don't even ask me how I came to solve it with this convoluted mumbo jumbo but my brain worked on full gear and at the time that I did this it made perfect sense, even though Im not that good at explaining the whole process in hindsight.

why are you setting your problem to 40 miles in 40 mins? Where did 120 come from?

If you cant explain ANYTHING why write an explanation?
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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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21 Jan 2014, 20:33
3
1
TroyfontaineMacon wrote:
aeglorre wrote:
sem wrote:
A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-mile trip? (Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-mile trip.)

A. 65 mph
B. 68 mph
C. 70 mph
D. 75 mph
E. 80 mph

Basically, the first 20 miles took 24 minutes, so the second 20 miles need to take 16 minutes in order for the average to be 60miles/h..

We need to pick an option from A-E (which we call X), that in the denominator makes 120/(16*x) = 1. Note that the value needs to be divided by 10 before it is multiplied by 16.. The only value that works is D (16 * 7.5 = 120), and thus D is the answer.

Don't even ask me how I came to solve it with this convoluted mumbo jumbo but my brain worked on full gear and at the time that I did this it made perfect sense, even though Im not that good at explaining the whole process in hindsight.

why are you setting your problem to 40 miles in 40 mins? Where did 120 come from?

It's an instinctive method you often use when you learn to play with numbers in your head.
You want the average speed to be 60 miles/hr i.e. you need to cover 60 miles in 60 mins which means you must cover 40 miles in 40 mins.
The first 20 miles were covered at an average speed of 50 mph i.e. time taken (in mins) to cover the first 20 miles is 20/50 * 60 = 24 mins
You need to cover 40 miles in total 40 mins and you have already taken 24 mins during the first 20 miles. This means, you need to speed up now and cover the rest of the 20 miles in the leftover 16 mins.
What will be your speed in mph if you cover 20 miles in 16/60 hrs?
Speed = 20/(16/60) = 75 mph
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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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23 Jan 2014, 04:37
2
A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40 miles trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-miles trip? ( Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-miles trip)

A. 65
B. 68
C. 70
D. 75
E. 80

Let $$x$$ be the average speed during remaining 20 miles

Total Trip Time = Time to cover first 20 miles + time to cover remaining 20 miles
Since total trip distance is twice that of first part of the trip, we may write above equation as

$$\frac{1}{50} + \frac{1}{x}= \frac{2}{60}$$

Or,$$\frac{1}{x} =\frac{2}{60} - \frac{1}{50}$$
Or, $$x = \frac{300}{4}=75$$ miles/hr

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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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09 Mar 2014, 17:40
2
Speed = Distance/ Time

Time elapsed for 20Miles = (20/50) *60 = 24 Min
Remaining distance = 20 Miles

Remaining time:
@ 60 Miles/ hr, 40 Miles would take - 40 Minutes

So remaining time = 40-24 = 16 Mins

Speed required to cover 20 miles in 16 mins = (20/16)*60 = 75 Miles/hr
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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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09 Mar 2014, 21:15
3
1
Average speed concept always confuses me. Anyways there is a formula

$$Avg. Speed = \frac{2(S_1)(S_2)}{S_1+S_2}$$

$$S_1$$ being one speed and $$S_2$$ being another

By substituting the value you will get 75 miles/hour

Time Taken - 1:45
Difficulty level - 600
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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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17 Jun 2015, 07:15
eybrj2 wrote:
A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40 miles trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-miles trip? ( Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-miles trip)

A. 65
B. 68
C. 70
D. 75
E. 80

Why not 70?
50 mph + x mph / 2 = 60 mph, so x = 70 since the first 20 miles ans the other 20 miles are the same distnace.
What's wrong with my reasoning?

Can we use this formula:

60 = 20/50 + 20/x ?? If yes, what is the way to solve for x ?
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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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17 Jun 2015, 07:29
2
1
LaxAvenger wrote:
eybrj2 wrote:
A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40 miles trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-miles trip? ( Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-miles trip)

A. 65
B. 68
C. 70
D. 75
E. 80

Why not 70?
50 mph + x mph / 2 = 60 mph, so x = 70 since the first 20 miles ans the other 20 miles are the same distnace.
What's wrong with my reasoning?

Can we use this formula:

60 = 20/50 + 20/x ?? If yes, what is the way to solve for x ?

NO, you can't use this Principle. In fact the only principle for calculating Average Speed is

Average Speed = Total Distance / Total Time

Solving Equation for you:

Here, Average Speed = 60
Total Distance = 40
Total Time = Time taken in Travelling 1st 20 Miles + Time taken in Travelling 2nd 20 Miles = (20/50) + (20/x) [Because Time = Distance/Speed]

i.e. 60 = 40/ [20/50 + 20/x]

i.e. 60 = 40/ 20[1/50 + 1/x] = 2/ [(x+50)/(50x)] = 2*50x / [(x+50)] = 100x / [(x+50)]

i.e. 60*[(x+50)] = 100x

i.e. 60x + 30000 = 100x

i.e. 40x = 3000

i.e. x = 300/4 = 75 mph

I hope It clears your Doubt!
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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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17 Jun 2015, 08:30
GMATinsight wrote:
LaxAvenger wrote:
eybrj2 wrote:
A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40 miles trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-miles trip? ( Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-miles trip)

A. 65
B. 68
C. 70
D. 75
E. 80

Why not 70?
50 mph + x mph / 2 = 60 mph, so x = 70 since the first 20 miles ans the other 20 miles are the same distnace.
What's wrong with my reasoning?

Can we use this formula:

60 = 20/50 + 20/x ?? If yes, what is the way to solve for x ?

NO, you can't use this Principle. In fact the only principle for calculating Average Speed is

Average Speed = Total Distance / Total Time

Solving Equation for you:

Here, Average Speed = 60
Total Distance = 40
Total Time = Time taken in Travelling 1st 20 Miles + Time taken in Travelling 2nd 20 Miles = (20/50) + (20/x) [Because Time = Distance/Speed]

i.e. 60 = 40/ [20/50 + 20/x]

i.e. 60 = 40/ 20[1/50 + 1/x] = 2/ [(x+50)/(50x)] = 2*50x / [(x+50)] = 100x / [(x+50)]

i.e. 60*[(x+50)] = 100x

i.e. 60x + 30000 = 100x

i.e. 40x = 3000

i.e. x = 300/4 = 75 mph

I hope It clears your Doubt!

Thank you so far!

60 = 40/(0.4 + 20/x)

x= 75

?
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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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17 Jun 2015, 08:38
LaxAvenger wrote:
GMATinsight wrote:
LaxAvenger wrote:
A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40 miles trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-miles trip? ( Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-miles trip)

A. 65
B. 68
C. 70
D. 75
E. 80

Why not 70?
50 mph + x mph / 2 = 60 mph, so x = 70 since the first 20 miles ans the other 20 miles are the same distnace.
What's wrong with my reasoning?

Can we use this formula:

60 = 20/50 + 20/x ?? If yes, what is the way to solve for x ?

NO, you can't use this Principle. In fact the only principle for calculating Average Speed is

Average Speed = Total Distance / Total Time

Solving Equation for you:

Here, Average Speed = 60
Total Distance = 40
Total Time = Time taken in Travelling 1st 20 Miles + Time taken in Travelling 2nd 20 Miles = (20/50) + (20/x) [Because Time = Distance/Speed]

i.e. 60 = 40/ [20/50 + 20/x]

i.e. 60 = 40/ 20[1/50 + 1/x] = 2/ [(x+50)/(50x)] = 2*50x / [(x+50)] = 100x / [(x+50)]

i.e. 60*[(x+50)] = 100x

i.e. 60x + 30000 = 100x

i.e. 40x = 3000

i.e. x = 300/4 = 75 mph

I hope It clears your Doubt!

Thank you so far!

60 = 40/(0.4 + 20/x)

x= 75

?[/quote]

This equation 60 = 40/(0.4 + 20/x) is same as the equation I mentioned in my solution

i.e. 60 = 40/ [20/50 + 20/x]
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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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12 Oct 2017, 17:02
Bunuel wrote:
The Official Guide For GMAT® Quantitative Review, 2ND Edition

A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-mile trip? (Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-mile trip.)

(A) 65 mph
(B) 68 mph
(C) 70 mph
(D) 75 mph
(E) 80 mph

We can use the following formula:

average rate = (distance 1 + distance 2)/(time 1 + time 2)

where average rate = 60, distance 1 = distance 2 = 20, time 1 = distance 1/rate 1 = 20/50 = 2/5, and time 2 = distance 2/rate 2 = 20/r (where r is the average speed of the remaining 20 miles).

Let’s now determine r:

60 = (20 + 20)/(2/5 + 20/r)

60 = 40/(2r/5r + 100/5r)

60 = 40/[(2r + 100)/5r]

60 = 200r/(2r + 100)

60(2r + 100) = 200r

120r + 6000 = 200r

6000 = 80r

r = 6000/80 = 600/8 = 75

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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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10 Dec 2017, 09:52
1
Top Contributor
1
Bunuel wrote:
The Official Guide For GMAT® Quantitative Review, 2ND Edition

A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-mile trip? (Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-mile trip.)

(A) 65 mph
(B) 68 mph
(C) 70 mph
(D) 75 mph
(E) 80 mph

The total distance is 40 miles, and we want the average speed to be 60 miles per hour.
Average speed = (total distance)/(total time)
So, we get: 60 = (40 miles)/(total time)
Solve equation to get: total time = 2/3 hours
So, the TIME for the ENTIRE 40-mile trip needs to be 2/3 hours.

driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour.
How much time was spent on this FIRST PART of the trip?
time = distance/speed
So, time = 20/50 = 2/5 hours

The ENTIRE trip needs to be 2/3 hours, and the FIRST PART of the trip took 2/5 hours

2/3 hours - 2/5 hours = 10/15 hours - 6/15 hours
= 4/15 hours
So, the SECOND PART of the trip needs to take 4/15 hours

The SECOND PART of the trip is 20 miles, and the time is 4/15 hours
Speed = distance/time
So, speed = 20/(4/15)
= (20)(15/4)
= 75

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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average  [#permalink]

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22 Mar 2018, 08:05
Top Contributor
eybrj2 wrote:
A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40 miles trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour. At what average speed must the driver complete the remaining 20 miles to achieve an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the entire 40-miles trip? ( Assume that the driver did not make any stops during the 40-miles trip)

A. 65
B. 68
C. 70
D. 75
E. 80

The total distance is 40 miles, and we want the average speed to be 60 miles per hour.
Average speed = (total distance)/(total time)
So, we get: 60 = (40 miles)/(total time)
Solve equation to get: total time = 2/3 hours
So, the TIME for the ENTIRE 40-mile trip needs to be 2/3 hours.

The driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average speed of 50 miles per hour.
How much time was spent on this FIRST PART of the trip?
time = distance/speed
So, time = 20/50 = 2/5 hours

The ENTIRE trip needs to be 2/3 hours, and the FIRST PART of the trip took 2/5 hours

2/3 hours - 2/5 hours = 10/15 hours - 6/15 hours
= 4/15 hours
So, the SECOND PART of the trip needs to take 4/15 hours

The SECOND PART of the trip is 20 miles, and the time is 4/15 hours
Speed = distance/time
So, speed = 20/(4/15)
= (20)(15/4)
= 75 mph

Cheers,
Brent
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Re: A driver completed the first 20 miles of a 40-mile trip at an average &nbs [#permalink] 22 Mar 2018, 08:05

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