DisciplinedPrep
Three cars leave from A to B in equal time intervals. They reach B simultaneously and then leave for Point C which is 240 miles away from B. The first car arrives at C an hour after the second car. The third car, having reached C, immediately turns back and heads towards B. The first and the third car meet a point that is 80 miles away from C. What is the difference between the speed of the first and the third car?
A. 60 mph
B. 20 mph
C. 40 mph
D. 80 mph
E. 120 mph
What is the source of this problem? It is not GMAT like.
The first and the third car meet a point that is 80 miles away from C.In the same time that car1 travels 240 - 80 = 160 miles, car3 travels 240 + 80 = 320 miles.
So ratio of their speeds is 1:2. If speed of car1 = s, speed of car3 = 2s
The first car arrives at C an hour after the second car.In an hour, the car1 covers s miles. So in same time, car1 has covered 240 - s miles while car2 has covered 240 miles.
Ratio of distance covered in same time in (240 - s):240 so ratio of speeds is (240 - s):240
s/ Speed of car2 = (240 - s)/240
Speed of car2 = 240s/(240 - s)
Now we have all three speeds in terms of s: Car1 = s, Car2 = 240s/(240 - s) and Car3 = 2s. So time taken will be in inverse ratio.
Three cars leave from A to B in equal time intervals. They reach B simultaneouslyTime taken by Car1 - Time taken by Car2 = Time taken by Car2 - Time taken by Car 3
1/s - (240 - s)/240s = (240 - s)/240s - 1/2s
s = 60
Diff in speed of Car1 and Car3 = 120 - 60 = 60 mph
Answer (A)