Bunuel
Competition Mode Question
If it takes 3.5 hours for Mathew to row a distance of X miles up the stream, what is his speed in still water?
(1) It takes him 2.5 hours to cover the distance of X miles downstream.
(2) He can cover a distance of 84 miles downstream in 6 hours.
Interesting one! My first thought about the question is that we'll have two rates: M's speed (in still water), and the speed at which the stream is flowing. Let's say that his speed is M mph, and the stream's speed is S mph.
So, if he's going upstream, the stream's movement will slow him down. The overall speed will then be M - S mph.
If he's going downstream, the overall speed will be M + S mph.
Translate the given information into these terms:
D = R * T
X = (M - S)*3.5
X = 3.5 M - 3.5 S
What is M?
Statment 1: Using the same variables as above, this statement translates into the following equation:
D = R * T
X = (M + S)*2.5
X = 2.5M + 2.5S
I don't
think this gives me enough to solve for M, even with the previous equation. Let's try to simplify, just in case. We know that X = 3.5 M - 3.5 S, and we know that X = 2.5 M + 2.5 S.
Therefore,
3.5 M - 3.5 S = 2.5 M + 2.5 S
M = 6 S
But since I don't know S, I can't really solve for M. Not sufficient.
Statement 2: This one gives us more numbers.
D = R * T
84 = (M + S)*6
M + S = 84 / 6 = 14
So, M + S = 14. Also, the given info told us that X = 3.5 M - 3.5 S. Can we solve for M?
S = 14 - M
X = 3.5M - 3.5(14 - M) = 3.5 M - 49 + 3.5 M = 7M - 49
However, I don't know the value of X, so I can't really solve for M. Insufficient again.
Statements 1 and 2 togetherNow I have three equations:
X = 3.5 M - 3.5 S (from the given info)
X = 2.5 M + 2.5 S (from statement 1)
M + S = 14 (from statement 2)
That's definitely enough to solve for M, since I have three distinct equations and only three variables. I wouldn't do this on test day, but I'll do it here for the solution:
3.5 M - 3.5 S = 2.5 M + 2.5 S
M = 6S
M + M/6 = 14
7M / 6 = 14
M = 6(14)/7 = 12
Therefore, his speed in still water is 12 mph.
The answer is C.