Annika hikes at a constant rate of 12 minutes per kilometer. She has hiked 2.75 kilometers east from the start of a hiking trail when she realizes that she has to be back at the start of the trail in 45 minutes. If Annika continues east, then turns around and retraces her path to reach the start of the trail in exactly 45 minutes, for how many kilometers total did she hike east?
A) 2.25
B) 2.75
C) 3.25
D) 3.75
E) 4.25
The easy way to understand this question.
She hikes 12 min per km i.e. 1 km in 12 min > 5 km in 60 min. So her speed is 5 km/hr
now make a simple diagram to understand the question
---------2.75km----------+++++++ Here --- is total 2.75 km which she travelled and ++++ is the additional distance(in east) say x.
----------------------------+++++++ Now, to move to the starting point, she first travel x in the east, then turns back, again travel x and finally rest 2.75
So total distance = 2x + 2.75, time taken = 45 min
D X S = T, 2x + 2.75 = 5 x 45/60, So, x = 0.5 km
So distance in east = x + 2.75 = 3.25
Hope its clear