Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 07:47 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 07:47
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,389
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,389
Kudos: 778,253
 [54]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
49
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
TimeTraveller
Joined: 28 Jun 2015
Last visit: 29 Jul 2017
Posts: 237
Own Kudos:
346
 [26]
Given Kudos: 47
Concentration: Finance
GPA: 3.5
Posts: 237
Kudos: 346
 [26]
16
Kudos
Add Kudos
9
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Lucy Phuong
Joined: 24 Jan 2017
Last visit: 12 Aug 2021
Posts: 116
Own Kudos:
347
 [5]
Given Kudos: 106
GMAT 1: 640 Q50 V25
GMAT 2: 710 Q50 V35
GPA: 3.48
Products:
GMAT 2: 710 Q50 V35
Posts: 116
Kudos: 347
 [5]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
4
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
pushpitkc
Joined: 26 Feb 2016
Last visit: 19 Feb 2025
Posts: 2,802
Own Kudos:
6,063
 [1]
Given Kudos: 47
Location: India
GPA: 3.12
Posts: 2,802
Kudos: 6,063
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Let the distance between the stations be x

First train(A) left station P- 6 AM and reached station Q - 11 AM, Time taken :5 hours.
Second train(B) left the station Q - 7 AM and reached station P - 10 AM, Time taken : 3 hours

Also since one of the trains left an hour later, the other train would have
traveled for an hour, covering \(\frac{x}{5}\) of the distance(Since Time: 5 hours)

For the remaining \(\frac{4x}{5}\) of the distance, the trains, together travel a distance of \(\frac{x}{3} + \frac{x}{5}(\frac{8x}{15})\) in an hour
Time taken for the trains to meet is \((\frac{4x}{5}/\frac{8x}{15}) = \frac{4*15}{5*8}= \frac{3}{2} hours\)

The trains meet at 8:30 am(Option C), one and an half hours after train B leaves the station Q.
User avatar
arvind910619
Joined: 20 Dec 2015
Last visit: 18 Oct 2024
Posts: 845
Own Kudos:
607
 [2]
Given Kudos: 755
Status:Learning
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Marketing
GMAT 1: 670 Q48 V36
GRE 1: Q157 V157
GPA: 3.4
WE:Engineering (Manufacturing)
Products:
GMAT 1: 670 Q48 V36
GRE 1: Q157 V157
Posts: 845
Kudos: 607
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Imo C
Let the distance be D
Speed of the first train be X
Speed of the second train be Y
Time taken by first train =5 hours
Time taken by second train=3 hours
X =D/5 and Y=D/3
first train travel for 1 hour from 6 to 7 am so distance covered is D-X*1=D-D/5=4*D/5
Now using concept of relative velocity we have
Time to meet =Distance traveled/Relative velocity
Relative velocity =D/5+D/3 as the trains are travelling in opposite direction
So we have (4*D/5)/(D/5+D/3) =(4/5)/(8/15)=3/2=1.5 hours
so the trains will meet at 8.30 am
User avatar
GMATinsight
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 08 Jul 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 6,839
Own Kudos:
16,351
 [3]
Given Kudos: 128
Status:GMAT/GRE Tutor l Admission Consultant l On-Demand Course creator
Location: India
GMAT: QUANT+DI EXPERT
Schools: IIM (A) ISB '24
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V41
WE:Education (Education)
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: IIM (A) ISB '24
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V41
Posts: 6,839
Kudos: 16,351
 [3]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Madhavi1990
TimeTraveller
Let the distance between the two stations be 150 kms.

Time taken by Train A = 5 hrs. Speed of Train A = 30 km/h.
Time taken by Train B = 3 hrs. Speed of Train B = 50 km/h.

Since they are travelling in opposite direction, their relative speed = 30+50 = 80. They must have passed one another at 120/80 = 1.5 hrs past 7 AM = 8:30 AM. Ans - C.


What is 120 here?

As per the explanation here the first train starts at 6 AM i.e. 1 hour before the other train started journey. so the first train has already travelled 30 km till 7 AM wgen second train starts moving

hence, at 7 AM the distance left between two trains = 150-30 = 120
Relative speed at 7 AM = 30+50 = 80 km/h

Time = 120/80 = 1.5 hours


Hope this helps!!! :)
User avatar
effatara
Joined: 09 Nov 2015
Last visit: 17 Jul 2024
Posts: 195
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 96
Posts: 195
Kudos: 461
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Let the distance between P and Q be 'd' miles and the time taken by T1 (which left P at 6:am) to travel to the point it meets T2 be 't' hrs.
T/4, distances covered by T1 and T2 until they meet is t(d/5)* miles and (t-1)**(d/3)* respectively. Obviously, the sum of these two distances is 'd'. Thus, t(d/5)+(t-1)(d/3)=d. So, t=2.5 hrs. Thus, T1 meets T2 2.5 hrs after it departs St.P, i.e at 8:30 am.

*Times taken by T1 and T2 to cover 'd' miles is 5 hrs and 3 hrs so their speeds are d/5 mph and d/3 mph respectively.
**T2 starts 1 hr after T1 so it travels 1 hr less.
avatar
permination
Joined: 27 Jul 2016
Last visit: 28 Feb 2024
Posts: 1
Own Kudos:
6
 [1]
Given Kudos: 18
GPA: 3.8
Products:
Posts: 1
Kudos: 6
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Let's call the trains A and B. Note that both trains travel the same distance. (We'll get to that)

Train A's total time = 5 hours
Train B's total time = 3 hours

Let's choose an easy LCM between the two for distance. Let distance = 15 miles

Thus:
Train A's speed = 15/5 = 3 mph
Train B's speed = 15/3 = 5 mph

Now we know their speed! The question now asks when they meet up. Let's make a quick timetable for the time vs. distance travelled at each 1 hour interval: (We want their distances to match up!)

@ 6AM: Train A --> 0 miles || Train B --> 0 miles
@ 7AM: Train A --> 3 miles || Train B --> 0 miles
@ 8AM: Train A --> 6 miles || Train B --> 5 miles
@ 9AM: Train A --> 9 miles || Train B --> 10 miles

Oh! So we know they cross somewhere between 8AM and 9AM. Let's choose something in between:

@830AM: Train A --> 7.5 miles || Train B --> 7.5miles [notice it's halfway between 8AM and 9AM bc of constant speed]

--> this is where they meet! 830AM --> C is your correct answer
avatar
Manishcfc8
Joined: 11 Nov 2017
Last visit: 22 Dec 2024
Posts: 21
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 38
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Technology
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V38
GPA: 3.5
WE:Consulting (Consulting)
Products:
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V38
Posts: 21
Kudos: 16
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
C

The ratio of speeds is 3:5 as the ratio of the time taken is 5:3.
Let's choose a distance that's divisively by both 3 and 5, say 300.

Speeds of the train are now 60 and 100.
Train at P had covered 60kms when The train at Q started.
After another hour, train P is at 120 km mark, while the other is at 200 mark. After another hour, at 180 Nd 100, so already crossed.
So, after 30 mins, they both at 150 mark.
User avatar
kunalcvrce
Joined: 05 Feb 2016
Last visit: 09 Apr 2025
Posts: 132
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 72
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Marketing
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 132
Kudos: 131
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
P(5hrs) R Q(3hrs)
|---------|---------------|
R - meeting point
p-q distance=D
v(p)=D/5,v(q)=D/3
Since P already started and traveled 1 hr when Q started
P traveled D/5 in one hour ..
Distance between them is now D-D/5=4D/5
New distance
P(5hrs) R Q(3hrs)
|----x-----|------(4d/5)-x---------|
They will reach R at same time.

so t1=t2,d1/v1=d2/v2
x/(D/5)=(4D/5-x)/(D/3)
x=3D/10
t=D/v=(3D/10)/(D/5)=1.5(1 hour 30 mins)
Total time =1+1.3=2.30
Time=6+2.30=8.30
User avatar
gracie
Joined: 07 Dec 2014
Last visit: 11 Oct 2020
Posts: 1,030
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 27
Posts: 1,030
Kudos: 1,943
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
A train left a station P at 6 am and reached another station Q at 11 am. Another train left station Q at 7 am and reached P at 10 am. At what time did the two trains pass one another?

(A) 7:50 am
(B) 8:13 am
(C) 8:30 am
(D) 8:42 am
(E) 9:03 am

at 8:00 am, train 1 has covered 2/5 of the distance
while train 2 has covered 1/3 of the distance
thus, 4/15 of the distance remains
4/15 distance/(1/5+1/3) combined rate=1/2 hour
8:00 am+1/2 hour=8:30 am
C
User avatar
Fdambro294
Joined: 10 Jul 2019
Last visit: 20 Aug 2025
Posts: 1,350
Own Kudos:
742
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,656
Posts: 1,350
Kudos: 742
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
We’re given information in which both trains cover the same distance.

Given the same constant distance, the Ratio of time traveled is inversely Proportional to the Ratio of Speeds



Time for train 1 from P : Time for train 2 from Q = 5 hours : 3 hours

Speed for train 1 : Speed for Train 2 = 3 : 5

Let train 1 leaving from P have a Speed = 3 mph

Distance from P to Q = (3 mph) * (5 hours to reach destination) = 15 m

Train 1 gets a 1 hour headstart when it leaves at 6 AM. 3 miles of the Gap Distance is closed.

At 7 AM ——-> 12 miles is between the 2 trains

Since train 1 Speed = 3 mph

Train 2 speed = 5 mph

Time to meet = (Gap Distance) / (Speed of 1 + Speed of 2)

Time = 12 / (3 + 5) = 12/8 = 3/2 hours

The trains will meet 1.5 hours after 7 AM

Answer: 8:30 AM

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,794
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 161
Location: India
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 5,794
Kudos: 5,509
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Given: A train left a station P at 6 am and reached another station Q at 11 am. Another train left station Q at 7 am and reached P at 10 am.

Asked: At what time did the two trains pass one another?

Let the distance between P & Q be D km.

P-Q:-
Time = 5 hours
Speed = D/5 kmh

Q-P:-
Time = 3 hours
Speed = D/3 kmh

From 6-7 am
First train travelled = D/5 km

Remaining Distance = D - D/5 = 4D/5 km
Relative speed = D/3 + D/5 = 8D/15
Time taken = (4D/5)/(8D/15) = 4*15/5*8 = 3/2 = 1.5 hours

Time when they meet = 7 + 1.5 = 8.5 hours = 8:30 am

IMO C
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,588
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,588
Kudos: 1,079
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
Math Expert
105389 posts
Tuck School Moderator
805 posts