GMAT Question of the Day - Daily to your Mailbox; hard ones only

 It is currently 17 Aug 2018, 02:56

### 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

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

# Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

CEO
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Posts: 2703
Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

17 Apr 2017, 06:30
4
Top Contributor
7
00:00

Difficulty:

95% (hard)

Question Stats:

50% (02:12) correct 50% (02:18) wrong based on 217 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120 kilometers per hour. Upon reaching point B, he immediately heads back to point A. On his return trip to point A, Bill spends half the time traveling 20 kilometers per hour, and half the time traveling 60 kilometers per hour. What is Bill’s average speed, in kilometers per hour, for the entire roundtrip?

A) 48
B) 60
C) 66 2/3
D) 72
E) 80

*kudos for all correct solutions

_________________

Brent Hanneson – Founder of gmatprepnow.com

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Posts: 6538
Re: Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

17 Apr 2017, 07:49
4
1
GMATPrepNow wrote:
Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120 kilometers per hour. Upon reaching point B, he immediately heads back to point A. On his return trip to point A, Bill spends half the time traveling 20 kilometers per hour, and half the time traveling 60 kilometers per hour. What is Bill’s average speed, in kilometers per hour, for the entire roundtrip?

A) 48
B) 60
C) 66 2/3
D) 72
E) 80

*kudos for all correct solutions

ofcourse there is a proper method but let me tell a logical and faster method..

Let's not bother what could be total distance..
Let's take it 120 km which is travelled in 1 HR one way..
On return he spends half time at 20kmph and half time at 60kmph..
So 80km in 2hrs or 40kmph..
@40kmph, he will cover 120 km in 120/40=3hrs..

Overall he covers 120+120 in 1+3hrs..
AVG speed = $$\frac{240}{4}$$=60kmph..

B
_________________

1) Absolute modulus : http://gmatclub.com/forum/absolute-modulus-a-better-understanding-210849.html#p1622372
2)Combination of similar and dissimilar things : http://gmatclub.com/forum/topic215915.html
3) effects of arithmetic operations : https://gmatclub.com/forum/effects-of-arithmetic-operations-on-fractions-269413.html

GMAT online Tutor

##### General Discussion
Director
Joined: 05 Mar 2015
Posts: 986
Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

17 Apr 2017, 07:56
1
GMATPrepNow wrote:
Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120 kilometers per hour. Upon reaching point B, he immediately heads back to point A. On his return trip to point A, Bill spends half the time traveling 20 kilometers per hour, and half the time traveling 60 kilometers per hour. What is Bill’s average speed, in kilometers per hour, for the entire roundtrip?

A) 48
B) 60
C) 66 2/3
D) 72
E) 80

*kudos for all correct solutions

Let the distance be x
then for returning part we have
if time = A units
A*20/2+ A*60/2 = x (S*T=D)
10A+30A= x
40A=x---- A= x/40-----(total time for return)

for up journey dist.= x (both side same distance) and speed = 120kmph
avg speed = total dist./total time

(x+x)/(x/120+ x/40)==2x* 120/ 4x
thus avg speed =60kmph

Ans B
VP
Joined: 07 Dec 2014
Posts: 1067
Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

17 Apr 2017, 09:44
2
1
GMATPrepNow wrote:
Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120 kilometers per hour. Upon reaching point B, he immediately heads back to point A. On his return trip to point A, Bill spends half the time traveling 20 kilometers per hour, and half the time traveling 60 kilometers per hour. What is Bill’s average speed, in kilometers per hour, for the entire roundtrip?

A) 48
B) 60
C) 66 2/3
D) 72
E) 80

*kudos for all correct solutions

let 8d=roundtrip distance
average speed=8d/(d/20+3d/60+4d/120)=60 kph
B
Intern
Joined: 28 Oct 2014
Posts: 35
Location: India
GMAT 1: 640 Q50 V27
GMAT 2: 680 Q50 V30
GPA: 3.89
WE: Engineering (Aerospace and Defense)
Re: Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

17 Apr 2017, 10:00
2
GMATPrepNow wrote:
Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120 kilometers per hour. Upon reaching point B, he immediately heads back to point A. On his return trip to point A, Bill spends half the time traveling 20 kilometers per hour, and half the time traveling 60 kilometers per hour. What is Bill’s average speed, in kilometers per hour, for the entire roundtrip?

A) 48
B) 60
C) 66 2/3
D) 72
E) 80

*kudos for all correct solutions

The average speed from A to B is 120 kmph
The average speed from B to A is (20+60)/2=40 kmph (since equal duration)

Now, The average speed for the whole trip 2*120*40/(120+40)=60 kmph (Since equal distance)

Formulae used:

A boy traveled V1 for time T and V2 for time T, Average velocity = (V1+V2)/2 (Same duration)
A boy traveled V1 for D distance and V2 for D distance, Average velocity = 2*V1*V2/(V1+V2) (Same distance)
SVP
Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Posts: 1778
Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

18 Apr 2017, 01:25
1
GMATPrepNow wrote:
Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120 kilometers per hour. Upon reaching point B, he immediately heads back to point A. On his return trip to point A, Bill spends half the time traveling 20 kilometers per hour, and half the time traveling 60 kilometers per hour. What is Bill’s average speed, in kilometers per hour, for the entire roundtrip?

A) 48
B) 60
C) 66 2/3
D) 72
E) 80

Another approach:

Working from the return trip while 'half the time traveling 20 kilometers per hour, and half the time traveling 60 kilometers per hour'

Let half time =1 hr.....Therefore

With 20 km/hr........Bill traveled distance= 20 km

With 60 km/hr........Bill traveled distance= 60 km

Total distance = 80 km

With 20 km/hr........Bill traveled time= 80/120 = 2/3 hr

Total distance = 2 *80= 180 km

Total time = 1+ 1+2/3= 2+2/3= 8/3 hr

Average speed = 2d/total time = 160 / (8/3) = 60 km/hr

Happy Easter, Brent
Manager
Joined: 25 Apr 2016
Posts: 60
Re: Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

18 Apr 2017, 01:42
1
average speed whilst going to B =40km/hr
average constant speed whilst returning to A =120km/hr
for the same distance, speed inversely related to time t(a->b) : t(b->a)=1:3
average speed = total dis./total time =(40*3x+120x)/4x=60 km/hr -> B
SVP
Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Posts: 1778
Re: Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

18 Apr 2017, 07:15
1
GMATPrepNow wrote:
Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120 kilometers per hour. Upon reaching point B, he immediately heads back to point A. On his return trip to point A, Bill spends half the time traveling 20 kilometers per hour, and half the time traveling 60 kilometers per hour. What is Bill’s average speed, in kilometers per hour, for the entire roundtrip?

A) 48
B) 60
C) 66 2/3
D) 72
E) 80

*kudos for all correct solutions

Dear Brent,

I know the following rule but I do if it works, although it provides the answer.

If an object travels an Two equal distances, then the average speed will be slightly less than the mean of two speeds.

I applied same concept here

Mean= (120+20+60) =200/3 = 66.66
so it should less than 66.66

Any trick or problem do you see?

thanks
CEO
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Posts: 2703
Re: Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

18 Apr 2017, 07:46
Top Contributor
Mo2men wrote:

Dear Brent,

I know the following rule but I do if it works, although it provides the answer.

If an object travels an Two equal distances, then the average speed will be slightly less than the mean of two speeds.

I applied same concept here

Mean= (120+20+60) =200/3 = 66.66
so it should less than 66.66

Any trick or problem do you see?

thanks

One foreseeable problem is the word "slightly" (as in "...the average speed will be slightly less than the mean of two speeds"
For example, if I travel from A to B at 60 miles per hour and then return to point A at 1 mile per hour, the MEAN of the two speeds is 30.5 miles per hour. However, the ACTUAL average speed = 120/61 miles per hour (i.e., about 1.97 miles per hour), which is A LOT less than the mean of 30.5 miles per hour.

There will also be issues with fact that you're dealing with 3 different speeds (and your rule applies to 2 speeds).

Cheers,
Brent
_________________

Brent Hanneson – Founder of gmatprepnow.com

CEO
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Posts: 2703
Re: Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

18 Apr 2017, 08:11
2
Top Contributor
GMATPrepNow wrote:
Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120 kilometers per hour. Upon reaching point B, he immediately heads back to point A. On his return trip to point A, Bill spends half the time traveling 20 kilometers per hour, and half the time traveling 60 kilometers per hour. What is Bill’s average speed, in kilometers per hour, for the entire roundtrip?

A) 48
B) 60
C) 66 2/3
D) 72
E) 80

Let's assign a nice value to the distance between point A and point B.
Given the 3 speeds (120 kmh, 20 kmh and 60 kmh), it seems that a distance of 120 kilometers will work nicely.

Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120 kilometers per hour.
Time = distance/rate
= 120/120 = 1 hour

On his return trip to point A, Bill spends half the time traveling 20 kilometers per hour, and half the time traveling 60 kilometers per hour.
Let x = the distance traveled at 20 kilometers per hour
So, 120 - x = the distance traveled at 60 kilometers per hour

Word equation: TIME traveled at 20 kmh = TIME traveled at 60 kmh
Time = distance/rate
So, we get: x/20 = (120-x)/60
Cross multiply: 60x = 20(120-x)
Expand: 60x = 2400 - 20x
Solve: x = 30
So, Bill drove 30 kilometers at 20 kilometers per hour, which means he drove the other 90 kilometers at 60 kilometers per hour.

TIME traveled at 20 kmh = 30/20 = 1.5 hours
Since the two travel times are EQUAL, we also know that Bill drove 1.5 hours at 60 kilometers per hour

So, the TOTAL DISTANCE = 120 + 120 = 240 kilometers
So, the TOTAL TRAVEL TIME = 1 + 1.5 + 1.5 = 4 hours

Average speed = (TOTAL DISTANCE)/(TOTAL TRAVEL TIME) = 240/4 = 60 kilometers per hour

RELATED VIDEOS

_________________

Brent Hanneson – Founder of gmatprepnow.com

Intern
Joined: 05 Dec 2016
Posts: 7
Re: Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

01 May 2017, 09:12
1
Algebric approach

Let time taken be T1 and T2-----

Distance covered from A to B = 120 x T1

Distance covered from B to A = (T2/2)x20 + (T2/2)x60= 40 x T2

Since distance covered is same hence---
120 x T1 = 40 x T2
=> (T1/T2) = 1/3

Therefore average velocity = Total distance/ Total time

V= (120 T1 + 40 T2)/(T1 + T2)

Dividing both numerator and denominator by T2 and using (T1/T2)= 1/3

V= 60 kmph
Intern
Joined: 19 Mar 2018
Posts: 2
Re: Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

19 Mar 2018, 03:22
GMATPrepNow wrote:
GMATPrepNow wrote:
Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120 kilometers per hour. Upon reaching point B, he immediately heads back to point A. On his return trip to point A, Bill spends half the time traveling 20 kilometers per hour, and half the time traveling 60 kilometers per hour. What is Bill’s average speed, in kilometers per hour, for the entire roundtrip?

A) 48
B) 60
C) 66 2/3
D) 72
E) 80

Let's assign a nice value to the distance between point A and point B.
Given the 3 speeds (120 kmh, 20 kmh and 60 kmh), it seems that a distance of 120 kilometers will work nicely.

Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120 kilometers per hour.
Time = distance/rate
= 120/120 = 1 hour

I got A with the following equation:
Ave. Speed = Total distance/total time. Since Bill travels from A to B and then back to A, the total distance should be 2d. The total time is d/120 (first trip) + half the distance with 20 mph + halfe the distance with 60 mph => 2d/(d/120 + 0.5d/20 + 0.5d/60) which is 2d/(d/120 + 3d/120 + d/120) so i end up with 240d/5d, the d's cancel out and i get 42. Can you explain to me how you got to the 4d in the denominator instead of 5d?
CEO
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Posts: 2703
Re: Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

19 Mar 2018, 08:24
1
Top Contributor
GngisKhan wrote:
GMATPrepNow wrote:
GMATPrepNow wrote:
Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120 kilometers per hour. Upon reaching point B, he immediately heads back to point A. On his return trip to point A, Bill spends half the time traveling 20 kilometers per hour, and half the time traveling 60 kilometers per hour. What is Bill’s average speed, in kilometers per hour, for the entire roundtrip?

A) 48
B) 60
C) 66 2/3
D) 72
E) 80

Let's assign a nice value to the distance between point A and point B.
Given the 3 speeds (120 kmh, 20 kmh and 60 kmh), it seems that a distance of 120 kilometers will work nicely.

Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120 kilometers per hour.
Time = distance/rate
= 120/120 = 1 hour

I got A with the following equation:
Ave. Speed = Total distance/total time. Since Bill travels from A to B and then back to A, the total distance should be 2d. The total time is d/120 (first trip) + half the distance with 20 mph + halfe the distance with 60 mph => 2d/(d/120 + 0.5d/20 + 0.5d/60) which is 2d/(d/120 + 3d/120 + d/120) so i end up with 240d/5d, the d's cancel out and i get 42. Can you explain to me how you got to the 4d in the denominator instead of 5d?

Be careful. The question says "On his return trip to point A, Bill spends half the time traveling 20 kilometers per hour"
In your solution, Bill spends half the DISTANCE traveling 20 kilometers per hour"

Cheers,
Brent
_________________

Brent Hanneson – Founder of gmatprepnow.com

Intern
Joined: 19 Mar 2018
Posts: 2
Re: Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

20 Mar 2018, 08:04
[quote="Be careful. The question says "On his return trip to point A, Bill spends half the time traveling 20 kilometers per hour"
In your solution, Bill spends half the DISTANCE traveling 20 kilometers per hour"

Cheers,
Brent[/quote]
Thank you, I got it now!
Re: Bill travels from point A to point B at a constant speed of 120 &nbs [#permalink] 20 Mar 2018, 08:04
Display posts from previous: Sort by

# Events & Promotions

 Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne Kindly note that the GMAT® test is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council®, and this site has neither been reviewed nor endorsed by GMAC®.