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# Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed

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Intern
Joined: 19 Dec 2015
Posts: 28
Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed [#permalink]

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Updated on: 26 May 2016, 12:11
1
8
00:00

Difficulty:

35% (medium)

Question Stats:

76% (02:49) correct 24% (02:33) wrong based on 173 sessions

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Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed of $$x$$ kilometers per hour. Today, the bus left 30 minutes late. If the driver drives $$\frac{7}{6}$$ times as fast as usual, she will arrive in Townville at the regular time. If the distance to Townville is 280 kilometers, what is the value of $$x$$?

A) 66
B) 72
C) 80
D) 84
E) 90

Originally posted by Sallyzodiac on 26 May 2016, 11:54.
Last edited by Sallyzodiac on 26 May 2016, 12:11, edited 1 time in total.
Intern
Joined: 19 Dec 2015
Posts: 28
Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed [#permalink]

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Updated on: 26 May 2016, 12:12
1
I did this algebraically, but I guess you could do it by plugging in numbers as well. My approach:

$$Time = \frac{Distance}{Speed}$$; thus the required time to travel 280 km = $$\frac{280}{s}$$.

However, this lady is running 30 minutes or $$\frac{1}{2}$$ of an hour late, but is at the same time travelling $$\frac{7s}{6}$$ as fast as usual and reaches Townville on time (as if she was travelling at her regular speed $$s$$ and left at her regular time). Thus, we can set up the following equation:

$$\frac{280}{s}$$ = $$\frac{280}{7s/6}$$ + $$\frac{1}{2}$$. Solving for $$s$$, we get $$s = 80$$, answer choice C.

Originally posted by Sallyzodiac on 26 May 2016, 12:10.
Last edited by Sallyzodiac on 26 May 2016, 12:12, edited 1 time in total.
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Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 46217
Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed [#permalink]

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26 May 2016, 12:11
Sallyzodiac wrote:
Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed of x kilometers per hour. Today, the bus left 30 minutes late. If the driver drives $$\frac{7}{6}$$ times as fast as usual, she will arrive in Townville at the regular time. If the distance to Townville is 280 kilometers, what is the value of x?

A) 66
B) 72
C) 80
D) 84
E) 90

Distance = Time*Rate

$$280 = Usual \ Time*x$$ --> $$Usual Time = \frac{280}{x}$$;

$$280 = (Usual \ Time - \frac{1}{2})*(\frac{7}{6}*x)$$ (because 30 minutes = 1/2 hours) --> $$Usual \ Time = \frac{40*6}{x} + \frac{1}{2}$$

$$\frac{280}{x} = \frac{40*6}{x} + \frac{1}{2}$$;

$$\frac{40}{x} =\frac{1}{2}$$;

$$x = 80$$.

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Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed [#permalink]

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26 May 2016, 14:51
x=normal speed of bus
t=normal time of trip
xt=280 km
(7x/6)(t-1/2)=280 km
xt=(7x/6)(t-1/2)
t=3.5 hours
280/3.5=80 kph
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Re: Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed [#permalink]

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26 May 2016, 20:16
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4
Sallyzodiac wrote:
Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed of $$x$$ kilometers per hour. Today, the bus left 30 minutes late. If the driver drives $$\frac{7}{6}$$ times as fast as usual, she will arrive in Townville at the regular time. If the distance to Townville is 280 kilometers, what is the value of $$x$$?

A) 66
B) 72
C) 80
D) 84
E) 90

You can also use ratios.

If speed becomes 7/6 the original, time taken will become 6/7 the original (since same distance is traveled). The 1/7 th of the time taken is 30 mins so total time taken usually is 7*30 = 210 mins = 210/60 = 7/2 hrs

Usual Speed = 280/(7/2) = 80 mph

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Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for $199 Veritas Prep Reviews Senior Manager Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 254 Re: Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed [#permalink] ### Show Tags 27 May 2016, 04:01 Total Distance: 280 Km. Usual speed: x KM per hour. Usual time: $$\frac{280}{x}$$ In the revised situation the bus covers the same distance by driving fast. So speed is more and Time taken is less Our revised equation is: $$\frac{280}{x}$$ (-) $$\frac{1}{2}$$ = 280/($$\frac{7x}{6}$$) $$\frac{280}{x}$$ (-) $$\frac{1}{2}$$ =$$\frac{280*6}{7x}$$ $$\frac{280}{x}$$ (-) $$\frac{280*6}{7x}$$ =$$\frac{1}{2}$$ $$\frac{40}{x}$$ =$$\frac{1}{2}$$ x = 80. Option C is correct answer. Intern Joined: 05 May 2016 Posts: 26 Location: United States WE: Web Development (Computer Software) Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed [#permalink] ### Show Tags 10 Jun 2016, 12:47 Sallyzodiac wrote: Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed of $$x$$ kilometers per hour. Today, the bus left 30 minutes late. If the driver drives $$\frac{7}{6}$$ times as fast as usual, she will arrive in Townville at the regular time. If the distance to Townville is 280 kilometers, what is the value of $$x$$? A) 66 B) 72 C) 80 D) 84 E) 90 Algebra / plugging values are two approaches to solve this problem. There is one more approach and I took the road less travelled The question stem mentions that "the driver drives $$\frac{7}{6}$$ times as fast as usual". Before jumping to algebra / plugging values, take a look at the answer choices. All the options, except (C), are multiples of 6. The distance is 280 kms. Driving at 80 km/hr, it will take 3.5 hours to cover the total distance. To cover the distance in 3 hours, the speed should be $$\frac{280}{3}$$. Multiplying 80 by $$\frac{7}{6}$$, you get $$\frac{280}{3}$$. Therefore, the answer is (C). EMPOWERgmat Instructor Status: GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat Joined: 19 Dec 2014 Posts: 11810 Location: United States (CA) GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49 GRE 1: 340 Q170 V170 Re: Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed [#permalink] ### Show Tags 16 Mar 2018, 11:08 Hi All, This question CAN be solved with either algebra or TESTing THE ANSWERS. Either way, this question involves the Distance Formula: Distance = Rate x Time We're told that the distance = 280 km, so 280 = R x T The question also mentions an exact difference of 30 minutes, which is a "round number" (relative to time). It makes me think that the question is probably designed around other round numbers. While I would normally start with answers B or D when TESTing the Answers, here I'm going to start with 80 (since it's a round number)… So if X the original speed and X = 80, we'd have. 280 = 80 x T 280/80 = T T = 3.5 hours Now let's see what happens when we subtract .5 hours (since the bus left 30 minutes late) and increase the speed by 7/6… 80(7/6) x (3) = ??? 560/6 x 3 1680/6 = 280 This MATCHES the original distance, so it MUST be the correct answer. Final Answer: GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich _________________ 760+: Learn What GMAT Assassins Do to Score at the Highest Levels Contact Rich at: Rich.C@empowergmat.com # Rich Cohen Co-Founder & GMAT Assassin Special Offer: Save$75 + GMAT Club Tests Free
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Intern
Joined: 14 Sep 2017
Posts: 7
Re: Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed [#permalink]

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19 Mar 2018, 11:18
Bunuel wrote:
Sallyzodiac wrote:
Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed of x kilometers per hour. Today, the bus left 30 minutes late. If the driver drives $$\frac{7}{6}$$ times as fast as usual, she will arrive in Townville at the regular time. If the distance to Townville is 280 kilometers, what is the value of x?

A) 66
B) 72
C) 80
D) 84
E) 90

Distance = Time*Rate

$$280 = Usual \ Time*x$$ --> $$Usual Time = \frac{280}{x}$$;

$$280 = (Usual \ Time - \frac{1}{2})*(\frac{7}{6}*x)$$ (30 minutes = 1/2 hours) --> $$Usual \ Time = \frac{40*6}{x} + \frac{1}{2}$$

$$\frac{280}{x} = \frac{40*6}{x} + \frac{1}{2}$$;

$$\frac{40}{x} =\frac{1}{2}$$;

$$x = 80$$.

My question may sound silly to you since its been a long time I studied math, My question is that, In the second equation, why are you subtracting 30 minutes from usual time? As the question says that she reaches 30 minutes late shouldn't it be " usual time+30 minutes " since she is late or am i missing something?
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Re: Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed [#permalink]

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19 Mar 2018, 11:27
1
Hi utkarshrihand,

The prompt states that "the bus LEFT 30 minutes LATE...." and that the bus driver drives FASTER so that "she will arrive in Townville at the REGULAR TIME."

Thus, the bus ride took 1/2 an hour LESS, and we have to subtract that half-hour from the total time.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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# Rich Cohen

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Special Offer: Save $75 + GMAT Club Tests Free Official GMAT Exam Packs + 70 Pt. Improvement Guarantee www.empowergmat.com/ ***********************Select EMPOWERgmat Courses now include ALL 6 Official GMAC CATs!*********************** Intern Joined: 14 Sep 2017 Posts: 7 Re: Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed [#permalink] ### Show Tags 19 Mar 2018, 11:50 EMPOWERgmatRichC wrote: Hi utkarshrihand, The prompt states that "the bus LEFT 30 minutes LATE...." and that the bus driver drives FASTER so that "she will arrive in Townville at the REGULAR TIME." Thus, the bus ride took 1/2 an hour LESS, and we have to subtract that half-hour from the total time. GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich Thank you for clarifying. I have one more question. In general if a question states that a person arrive say y minutes late, and usual time is a x minutes, then we would add y with x i.e total time equals x+y minutes, right ? EMPOWERgmat Instructor Status: GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat Joined: 19 Dec 2014 Posts: 11810 Location: United States (CA) GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49 GRE 1: 340 Q170 V170 Re: Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed [#permalink] ### Show Tags 20 Mar 2018, 10:50 Hi utkarshrihand, Yes - if you 'arrive LATE', then you would ADD time to the total time traveled. GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich _________________ 760+: Learn What GMAT Assassins Do to Score at the Highest Levels Contact Rich at: Rich.C@empowergmat.com # Rich Cohen Co-Founder & GMAT Assassin Special Offer: Save$75 + GMAT Club Tests Free
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www.empowergmat.com/

***********************Select EMPOWERgmat Courses now include ALL 6 Official GMAC CATs!***********************

Re: Every day at noon, a bus leaves for Townville and travels at a speed   [#permalink] 20 Mar 2018, 10:50
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