Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 13:38 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 13:38
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
asimov
Joined: 08 Apr 2009
Last visit: 11 Oct 2022
Posts: 1,186
Own Kudos:
819
 [34]
Given Kudos: 20
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: Duke (Fuqua) - Class of 2012
Schools: Duke (Fuqua) - Class of 2012
Posts: 1,186
Kudos: 819
 [34]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
30
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
tkarthi4u
Joined: 08 Jan 2009
Last visit: 12 Aug 2013
Posts: 141
Own Kudos:
320
 [22]
Given Kudos: 5
Concentration: International business
Posts: 141
Kudos: 320
 [22]
15
Kudos
Add Kudos
6
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
GSBae
Joined: 23 May 2013
Last visit: 07 Mar 2025
Posts: 167
Own Kudos:
456
 [10]
Given Kudos: 42
Location: United States
Concentration: Technology, Healthcare
GMAT 1: 760 Q49 V45
GPA: 3.5
GMAT 1: 760 Q49 V45
Posts: 167
Kudos: 456
 [10]
9
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
meaningful
Joined: 05 Dec 2008
Last visit: 18 Dec 2009
Posts: 6
Own Kudos:
2
 [1]
Posts: 6
Kudos: 2
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
D. 21 second

100/Vj - 100/Vs = 4 ----(1)
100/Vs = 84/Vj = 21 ----(2)
solve these 2 equations , Vj=4

Ts = 100/Vs ----> solve from 1st equation , Ts = 21
avatar
PareshGmat
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
Last visit: 10 Jul 2016
Posts: 1,534
Own Kudos:
8,102
 [6]
Given Kudos: 193
Status:The Best Or Nothing
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Technology
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 1,534
Kudos: 8,102
 [6]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
One more approach:

(Distance x time) of Sam = (Distance x time) of John
************************************************

Distance travelled by Sam = 100
Time taken by Sam = t


Distance travelled by John = 100-16 = 84
Time taken by John = t+4


84 (t+4) = 100 (t)

Solving this, t= 21
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,390
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: 105,390
Kudos: 778,351
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
asimov
In a 100m race, Sam beats John by 4 seconds. On the contrary, if Sam allowed John to start 16m ahead of Sam, then Sam and John reach the finishing point at the same time. How long does Sam take to run the 100m race?

A. 4 seconds
B. 25 seconds
C. 29 seconds
D. 21 seconds
E. 6.25 seconds

Similar questions to practice:
speed-time-problems-106921.html
a-s-speed-is-20-13-times-that-of-b-if-a-and-b-run-a-race-123434.html
jane-gave-karen-a-5-m-head-start-in-a-100-race-and-jane-was-93451.html
User avatar
WholeLottaLove
Joined: 13 May 2013
Last visit: 13 Jan 2014
Posts: 305
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 134
Posts: 305
Kudos: 627
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
In a 100m race, Sam beats John by 4 seconds. On the contrary, if Sam allowed John to start 16m ahead of Sam, then Sam and John reach the finishing point at the same time. How long does Sam take to run the 100m race?

I tried solving out using formulas but I did it out in my head instead.

If Sam allowed John to start out 16m ahead and they finished the race at the same time, while John lost to Sam in the last race by 4 seconds, this means John runs at 16m a second. If John were to start ahead of Sam by this 16m distance and they finished the race at the same time, John would have completed the race in 25 seconds. However, Sam is faster than John and closes the 4 second, 16 meter gap. Sam would have had to spend less time running than John for them to finish the race at the same time, the four seconds that John needed beat Sam.

D. 21 seconds
User avatar
jlgdr
Joined: 06 Sep 2013
Last visit: 24 Jul 2015
Posts: 1,311
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 355
Concentration: Finance
Posts: 1,311
Kudos: 2,863
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
tkarthi4u
different approach .

S and J runs 100 m . Lead = 4 sec

S ( 100 ) gives J ( 84 m ) a lead of 16 m. Both finish at the same time . Lead = 0 sec.

So John had to run this 16m in 4 sec so Speed of John = 16 / 4 = 4 m/sec

John run 100m in = 100 / 4 = 25 sec

Time taken by Sam = 25 - 4 = 21 sec.

Ans D

I wouldn't say that he had to run 'those' first 16m in 4 seconds but that in total we would have to run an extra 16m whatever they are in the whole track so that it can account for that 4 extra seconds.

The rest is very good

Cheers!
J :)
avatar
shiblee
Joined: 03 Jul 2013
Last visit: 14 Nov 2021
Posts: 32
Own Kudos:
51
 [1]
Given Kudos: 3
Posts: 32
Kudos: 51
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Their difference is 4 second but this difference is 0 if john allows Sam to start the race from 16m ahead . that means Jhon was 16m away from finishing line when they started together . so He will cover 16 m in 4 seconds . so his speed =16/4=4 metre / second . so time taken =100/4=25 seconds . so Sam took = 21 seconds .

correct answer = D

Posted from my mobile device
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
T=Sam's time
100/(T+4)=John's rate in race 1
84/T=John's rate in race 2
100/(T+4)=84/T
T=21 seconds
User avatar
shasadou
Joined: 12 Aug 2015
Last visit: 24 Nov 2022
Posts: 219
Own Kudos:
3,099
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,476
Concentration: General Management, Operations
GMAT 1: 640 Q40 V37
GMAT 2: 650 Q43 V36
GMAT 3: 600 Q47 V27
GPA: 3.3
WE:Management Consulting (Consulting)
GMAT 3: 600 Q47 V27
Posts: 219
Kudos: 3,099
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
arranging info into rtd chart suggested by mgmat is really helpful.

plug (3) into (2) and you receive Jonh's speed of 4 m/sec. So John takes 25 seconds to make 100 meters and Sam takes 4 secs less = 21.
Attachments

rtd.jpg
rtd.jpg [ 20.87 KiB | Viewed 23764 times ]

User avatar
mvictor
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 17 Jul 2014
Last visit: 14 Jul 2021
Posts: 2,124
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 236
Location: United States (IL)
Concentration: Finance, Economics
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V30
GPA: 3.92
WE:General Management (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V30
Posts: 2,124
Kudos: 1,263
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
took some time to think about how to solve this one...
so John takes 4 seconds more to run the remaining 16 meters. so 16/4 = 4m/s is the speed of John.
john runs 100 meters in 25 seconds.
we know that sam needs 25-4 =21 seconds.

D.
avatar
Mathivanan Palraj
Joined: 09 Jun 2015
Last visit: 06 Apr 2022
Posts: 56
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 56
Kudos: 39
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
asimov
In a 100m race, Sam beats John by 4 seconds. On the contrary, if Sam allowed John to start 16m ahead of Sam, then Sam and John reach the finishing point at the same time. How long does Sam take to run the 100m race?

A. 4 seconds
B. 25 seconds
C. 29 seconds
D. 21 seconds
E. 6.25 seconds

Given: Sam gives John a start of 16 m and they reach at the same time
It implies that when John covers 84 m, Sam covers 100 m in the same time
Therefore, their speed will be in the ratio of 84 to 100 and time taken will be in the ratio of 100 to 84
Reducing the ratio of time we get, 21 to 25 which gives that difference of 4 seconds.
Therefore, the time taken by Sam is 21 seconds.
User avatar
SVaidyaraman
Joined: 17 Dec 2012
Last visit: 11 Jul 2025
Posts: 576
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 20
Location: India
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 576
Kudos: 1,795
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
asimov
In a 100m race, Sam beats John by 4 seconds. On the contrary, if Sam allowed John to start 16m ahead of Sam, then Sam and John reach the finishing point at the same time. How long does Sam take to run the 100m race?

A. 4 seconds
B. 25 seconds
C. 29 seconds
D. 21 seconds
E. 6.25 seconds

Since distance is the same in the first case, first equation is s1/s2=t2/t1
Since time is the same in the second case, second equation is s1/s2= d1/d2
Therefore, d1/d2=t2/t1
84/100=(t-4)/t
t=25,
t-4=21 seconds
User avatar
ThatDudeKnows
Joined: 11 May 2022
Last visit: 27 Jun 2024
Posts: 1,070
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 79
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,070
Kudos: 977
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
asimov
In a 100m race, Sam beats John by 4 seconds. On the contrary, if Sam allowed John to start 16m ahead of Sam, then Sam and John reach the finishing point at the same time. How long does Sam take to run the 100m race?

A. 4 seconds
B. 25 seconds
C. 29 seconds
D. 21 seconds
E. 6.25 seconds

That 16m lead exactly offsets the 4 second difference between them. Sam still runs the same time; John is saving 4 seconds and 16m. 16m:4sec is 4m/sec. That is how fast John runs.

If we go back to the initial scenario in the question and have them both do the full 100m, John does it in 100/4 = 25 seconds. Sam is 4 seconds faster, so 21 seconds.

Answer choice D.
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,587
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,587
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
105390 posts
Tuck School Moderator
805 posts