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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east 08 Jan 2020, 02:47
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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east of B. The table below describes the schedule of an airline operating non-stop flights between A and B. All the times indicated are local and on the same day.

Assume that planes cruise at the same speed in both directions. However, the effective speed is influenced by a steady wind blowing from east to west at 50 km per hour.

What is the time difference between A and B?


(A) 1 hour

(B) 1.5 hours

(C) 2 hours

(D) 2.5 hours

(E) Cannot be determined


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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east 09 Jan 2020, 04:46
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given the data ,

let speed of plane is S , t is difference in the time zone.

Time taken while going from B to A = 7hr - t

Time taken while going from A to B = 4hr + t

total time taken during travelling = 7 + 4 = 11

i.e 3000/s−50+3000/s+50=11

By plugging in the s = 550kmph exactly.

D = (s-50) ( 7-t)
3000 = 500 ( 7-t)
t = 7-6 = 1hr , the difference in time zone is 1 hr
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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east Updated on: 11 Jan 2020, 13:05
Originally posted by eakabuah on 09 Jan 2020, 01:09.
Last edited by eakabuah on 11 Jan 2020, 13:05, edited 1 time in total.
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Let the time taken for the flight from A to B to Tab and the time from B to A be Tba. Let the speed of the plane be S, and the time difference be Td.
Then from the information provided above, the following equations can be formed.
Tab=4+td --------(1)
Tba=7-td--------(2)
Sab = S+50 -----(3)
Sba = S-50 ------(4)

Since the plane would cover the same distance in a trip from A to B and B to A, Average Speed, Sav, =[(S+50)+(S-50)]/2 = 2S/2 = S.
Average time, Tav, = [(4+td)+(7-td)] = 11/2 = 5.5hrs.

Sav = S = 3000/5.5 = 545 approximately 550km/hr
Sab = 550+50 = 600km/hr
Tab= 3000/Sab = 3000/600 = 5hrs
But Tab = 4+td hence 5=4+Td so Td=1hr.

The answer is, therefore A.
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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east 08 Jan 2020, 02:51
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Bunuel
Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east of B. The table below describes the schedule of an airline operating non-stop flights between A and B. All the times indicated are local and on the same day.

Assume that planes cruise at the same speed in both directions. However, the effective speed is influenced by a steady wind blowing from east to west at 50 km per hour.

What is the time difference between A and B?


(A) 1 hour

(B) 1.5 hours

(C) 2 hours

(D) 2.5 hours

(E) Cannot be determined


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TWIN QUESTION: https://gmatclub.com/forum/cities-a-and ... 13969.html
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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east 09 Jan 2020, 17:09
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eakabuah
Let the time taken for the flight from A to B to Tab and the time from B to A be Tba. Let the speed of the plane be S, and the time difference be Td.
Then from the information provided above, the following equations can be formed.
Tab=7-td --------(1)
Tba=4+td--------(2)
Sab = S+50 -----(3)
Sba = S-50 ------(4)

Since the plane would cover the same distance in a trip from A to B and B to A, Average Speed, Sav, =[(S+50)+(S-50)]/2 = 2S/2 = S.
Average time, Tav, = [(4+td)+(7-td)] = 11/2 = 5.5hrs.

Sav = S = 3000/5.5 = 545 approximately 550km/hr
Sab = 550+50 = 600km/hr
Tab= 3000/Sab = 3000/600 = 5hrs
But Tab = 7-td hence 5=7-Td so Td=2hr.

The answer is, therefore C.
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It looks like you reversed the speed of a->b and b->a. You gave S+50 to the slower trip, and it's causing your answer to be incorrect.

Sab = 550-50 = 500
Tab 3000/500 = 6
6 = 7-td
td=1

Sba = 550+50 = 600
Tba = 3000/600 = 5
5=4+td
td=1
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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east 12 Jan 2020, 01:41
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eakabuah
Let the time taken for the flight from A to B to Tab and the time from B to A be Tba. Let the speed of the plane be S, and the time difference be Td.
Then from the information provided above, the following equations can be formed.
Tab=7-td --------(1)
Tba=4+td--------(2)
Sab = S+50 -----(3)
Sba = S-50 ------(4)

Since the plane would cover the same distance in a trip from A to B and B to A, Average Speed, Sav, =[(S+50)+(S-50)]/2 = 2S/2 = S.
Average time, Tav, = [(4+td)+(7-td)] = 11/2 = 5.5hrs.

Sav = S = 3000/5.5 = 545 approximately 550km/hr
Sab = 550+50 = 600km/hr
Tab= 3000/Sab = 3000/600 = 5hrs
But Tab = 7-td hence 5=7-Td so Td=2hr.

The answer is, therefore C.

It looks like you reversed the speed of a->b and b->a. You gave S+50 to the slower trip, and it's causing your answer to be incorrect.

Sab = 550-50 = 500
Tab 3000/500 = 6
6 = 7-td
td=1

Sba = 550+50 = 600
Tba = 3000/600 = 5
5=4+td
td=1
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Thanks for pointing out the error in my approach. I actually reversed the equations for the duration of the flights.

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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east 13 Jan 2020, 15:01
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Bunuel
Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east of B. The table below describes the schedule of an airline operating non-stop flights between A and B. All the times indicated are local and on the same day.

Assume that planes cruise at the same speed in both directions. However, the effective speed is influenced by a steady wind blowing from east to west at 50 km per hour.

What is the time difference between A and B?


(A) 1 hour

(B) 1.5 hours

(C) 2 hours

(D) 2.5 hours

(E) Cannot be determined


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2020-01-08_1344.png
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Let the time difference between cities A and B be x and the cruising speed of the plane be r. Since the wind speed is 50 km per hour blowing from east to west. The effective speed of the plane going from A to B is r + 50 and that going from B to A is r - 50.

Therefore, we can create the equations:

Goring from A to B: 3000/(r + 50) - x = 4 (notice that 4 is the no. of hours between 4 pm and 8 pm)

Goring from B to A: 3000/(r - 50) + x = 7 (notice that 7 is the no. of hours between 8 am and 3 pm)

If we add these two equations together, we have:

3000/(r + 50) + 3000/(r - 50) = 11

Multiplying the above equation by (r + 50)(r - 50) = r^2 - 2500, we have:

3000(r - 50) + 3000(r + 50) = 11(r^2 - 2500)

3000r - 150,000 + 3000r + 150,000 = 11r^2 - 27,500

6000r = 11r^2 - 27,500

11r^2 - 6000r - 27,500 = 0

(11r + 50)(r - 550) = 0

r = -50/11 or r = 550

Since r can’t be negative, r = 550. Substituting this for r into one of the two original equations (say the first one), we have:

3000/(550 + 50) - x = 4

3000/600 - x = 4

5 - x = 4

1 = x

Answer: A
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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east 02 Jun 2020, 11:21
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This is a XAT style question.
Does these kind of questions actually appear in GMAT ?
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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east 02 Jun 2020, 16:30
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BhishmaNaidu99
given the data ,

let speed of plane is S , t is difference in the time zone.

Time taken while going from B to A = 7hr - t

Time taken while going from A to B = 4hr + t

total time taken during travelling = 7 + 4 = 11

i.e 3000/s−50+3000/s+50=11

By plugging in the s = 550kmph exactly.

D = (s-50) ( 7-t)
3000 = 500 ( 7-t)
t = 7-6 = 1hr , the difference in time zone is 1 hr
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How did you get to know the value 550 you need to plug?
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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east 02 Jun 2020, 16:36
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Bunuel
Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east of B. The table below describes the schedule of an airline operating non-stop flights between A and B. All the times indicated are local and on the same day.

Assume that planes cruise at the same speed in both directions. However, the effective speed is influenced by a steady wind blowing from east to west at 50 km per hour.

What is the time difference between A and B?


(A) 1 hour

(B) 1.5 hours

(C) 2 hours

(D) 2.5 hours

(E) Cannot be determined


Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions

Show Spoiler
Attachment:
2020-01-08_1344.png

Let the time difference between cities A and B be x and the cruising speed of the plane be r. Since the wind speed is 50 km per hour blowing from east to west. The effective speed of the plane going from A to B is r + 50 and that going from B to A is r - 50.

Therefore, we can create the equations:

Goring from A to B: 3000/(r + 50) - x = 4 (notice that 4 is the no. of hours between 4 pm and 8 pm)

Goring from B to A: 3000/(r - 50) + x = 7 (notice that 7 is the no. of hours between 8 am and 3 pm)

If we add these two equations together, we have:

3000/(r + 50) + 3000/(r - 50) = 11

Multiplying the above equation by (r + 50)(r - 50) = r^2 - 2500, we have:

3000(r - 50) + 3000(r + 50) = 11(r^2 - 2500)

3000r - 150,000 + 3000r + 150,000 = 11r^2 - 27,500

6000r = 11r^2 - 27,500

11r^2 - 6000r - 27,500 = 0

(11r + 50)(r - 550) = 0

r = -50/11 or r = 550

Since r can’t be negative, r = 550. Substituting this for r into one of the two original equations (say the first one), we have:

3000/(550 + 50) - x = 4

3000/600 - x = 4

5 - x = 4

1 = x

Answer: A
Show more

Did you calculate the roots by

-b +- Square root (b square - 4*ac)/2a ??
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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east 17 Jun 2020, 03:48
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Kunni
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Bunuel
Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east of B. The table below describes the schedule of an airline operating non-stop flights between A and B. All the times indicated are local and on the same day.

Assume that planes cruise at the same speed in both directions. However, the effective speed is influenced by a steady wind blowing from east to west at 50 km per hour.

What is the time difference between A and B?


(A) 1 hour

(B) 1.5 hours

(C) 2 hours

(D) 2.5 hours

(E) Cannot be determined


Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions

Show Spoiler
Attachment:
2020-01-08_1344.png

Let the time difference between cities A and B be x and the cruising speed of the plane be r. Since the wind speed is 50 km per hour blowing from east to west. The effective speed of the plane going from A to B is r + 50 and that going from B to A is r - 50.

Therefore, we can create the equations:

Goring from A to B: 3000/(r + 50) - x = 4 (notice that 4 is the no. of hours between 4 pm and 8 pm)

Goring from B to A: 3000/(r - 50) + x = 7 (notice that 7 is the no. of hours between 8 am and 3 pm)

If we add these two equations together, we have:

3000/(r + 50) + 3000/(r - 50) = 11

Multiplying the above equation by (r + 50)(r - 50) = r^2 - 2500, we have:

3000(r - 50) + 3000(r + 50) = 11(r^2 - 2500)

3000r - 150,000 + 3000r + 150,000 = 11r^2 - 27,500

6000r = 11r^2 - 27,500

11r^2 - 6000r - 27,500 = 0

(11r + 50)(r - 550) = 0

r = -50/11 or r = 550

Since r can’t be negative, r = 550. Substituting this for r into one of the two original equations (say the first one), we have:

3000/(550 + 50) - x = 4

3000/600 - x = 4

5 - x = 4

1 = x

Answer: A

Did you calculate the roots by

-b +- Square root (b square - 4*ac)/2a ??
Show more

Reply to Kunni:

Using the quadratic formula is one way to obtain the roots; however, with such large numbers, the calculations involved would have been nasty.

Instead, I observed that 11r^2 can only be factored as 11r * r; so I wrote:

11r^2 - 6000r - 27,500 = (11r - a)(r - b)

Opening up the parentheses, I obtained:

11r^2 - 6000r - 27,500 = 11r^2 - (a + 11b)r + ab

So, the product of the roots is -27,500 and the roots satisfy a + 11b = 6000. I simply looked for values where the product is -27,500 and which satisfies the equation a + 11b = 6000. It takes a few tries, but I think it is faster to obtain the roots this way compared to the quadratic equation.

Alternate solution:

When factoring a quadratic equation of the form ax^2 + bx + c = 0 where a ≠ 1, you can always “convert” it to one that is a = 1 by removing it (from x^2) and multiplying it with c, the constant term c. For example, 2x^2 - x - 3 = 0 becomes x^2 - x - 6 = 0. Then we factor x^2 - x - 6 = 0 (i.e., the transformed equation) instead. Of course, after the roots of x^2 - x - 6 = 0 are found, we have to modify them so that they can be the roots of 2x^2 - x - 3 = 0. This is how:

x^2 - x - 6 = 0

(x + 2)(x - 3) = 0

x = -2 or x = 3

Now, here is the adjustment: for the two roots found we divide each by 2 (i.e., the value of a): -2/2 = -1 and 3/2.

These two new values will be the roots of the original equation. We can verify them by factoring 2x^2 - x - 3 = 0 directly:

2x^2 - x - 3 = 0

(2x - 3)(x + 1) = 0

2x - 3 = 0 → x = 3/2

or

x + 1 = 0 → x = -1

Now, back to the equation 11r^2 - 6000r - 27,500 = 0. Since 11 x 27,500 = 302,500, so the transformed equation we are going to factor instead is r^2 - 6000r - 302,500 = 0. Although 302,500 is the big number, recall one thing about factor quadratic equation with 1 as the coefficient of x^2 (or in this case, r^2) is: If constant term is negative, we look for two numbers whose product is (the absolute value of) the constant term and whose difference is (the absolute value of) the coefficient of x (or in this case, r). So we are looking for two numbers whose product is 302,500 and whose difference is 6000. That is, the two numbers must be one large and the other small. Actually, the large number must be around 6000 if the small number, say, is less than 100. Notice that 302,500/6000 is about 50 and since 50 divides into 302,500, one can guess the small number must be 50, which makes the large number to be 302,500/50 = 6050. We see that the difference between 6050 and 50 is exactly 6000, so we have found our two numbers. Now we can factor 11r^2 - 6000r - 27,500 = 0 as:

(r - 6050)(r + 50) = 0

r = 6050 or r = -50

Dividing both numbers by 11, we have 6050/11 = 550 and -50/11 as the roots of 11r^2 - 6000r - 27,500 = 0.
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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east 11 Mar 2021, 03:24
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Good afternoon Scott Woodbury-Stewart,

Thank you for such a wonderful solution.

I would request you to clear my small doubt. In the below equations, how did you ascertain that you have to deduct x in the first case and add x in second case?

Going from A to B: 3000/(r + 50) - x = 4 (notice that 4 is the no. of hours between 4 pm and 8 pm)

Going from B to A: 3000/(r - 50) + x = 7 (notice that 7 is the no. of hours between 8 am and 3 pm)


ScottTargetTestPrep
Bunuel
Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east of B. The table below describes the schedule of an airline operating non-stop flights between A and B. All the times indicated are local and on the same day.

Assume that planes cruise at the same speed in both directions. However, the effective speed is influenced by a steady wind blowing from east to west at 50 km per hour.

What is the time difference between A and B?


(A) 1 hour

(B) 1.5 hours

(C) 2 hours

(D) 2.5 hours

(E) Cannot be determined


Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions

Show Spoiler
Attachment:
2020-01-08_1344.png

Let the time difference between cities A and B be x and the cruising speed of the plane be r. Since the wind speed is 50 km per hour blowing from east to west. The effective speed of the plane going from A to B is r + 50 and that going from B to A is r - 50.

Therefore, we can create the equations:

Goring from A to B: 3000/(r + 50) - x = 4 (notice that 4 is the no. of hours between 4 pm and 8 pm)

Goring from B to A: 3000/(r - 50) + x = 7 (notice that 7 is the no. of hours between 8 am and 3 pm)

If we add these two equations together, we have:

3000/(r + 50) + 3000/(r - 50) = 11

Multiplying the above equation by (r + 50)(r - 50) = r^2 - 2500, we have:

3000(r - 50) + 3000(r + 50) = 11(r^2 - 2500)

3000r - 150,000 + 3000r + 150,000 = 11r^2 - 27,500

6000r = 11r^2 - 27,500

11r^2 - 6000r - 27,500 = 0

(11r + 50)(r - 550) = 0

r = -50/11 or r = 550

Since r can’t be negative, r = 550. Substituting this for r into one of the two original equations (say the first one), we have:

3000/(550 + 50) - x = 4

3000/600 - x = 4

5 - x = 4

1 = x

Answer: A
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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east 09 Apr 2021, 09:40
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Bunuel
Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east of B. The table below describes the schedule of an airline operating non-stop flights between A and B. All the times indicated are local and on the same day.

Assume that planes cruise at the same speed in both directions. However, the effective speed is influenced by a steady wind blowing from east to west at 50 km per hour.

What is the time difference between A and B?


(A) 1 hour

(B) 1.5 hours

(C) 2 hours

(D) 2.5 hours

(E) Cannot be determined




RahulHGGmat
Good afternoon Scott Woodbury-Stewart,

Thank you for such a wonderful solution.

I would request you to clear my small doubt. In the below equations, how did you ascertain that you have to deduct x in the first case and add x in second case?

Going from A to B: 3000/(r + 50) - x = 4 (notice that 4 is the no. of hours between 4 pm and 8 pm)

Going from B to A: 3000/(r - 50) + x = 7 (notice that 7 is the no. of hours between 8 am and 3 pm)
Show more

Response:

Since A is to the east of B, saying that “the time difference between A and B is x hours” is the same thing as saying “A is x hours ahead of B.” In other words, we can convert A’s time to B’s time by subtracting x hours from A’s time.

Let the travel time going from A to B be y hours (this is represented by the expression 3000/(r + 50) in my solution above).

Since the travel time is y hours, the plane will land in B at 4:00pm + y hours in A’s time. To convert this to B’s time, we need to subtract x hours and obtain 4:00pm + y hours - x hours. We are told that a plane that takes off from A at 4:00pm lands in B at 8:00pm; thus, we must have:

4:00 pm + y hours - x hours = 8:00pm

Passing 4:00pm to the other side of the equation, we see that y hours - x hours equals the number of hours between 4pm and 8pm. This is why x hours was subtracted in the first case.

Let’s apply the same idea to the plane going from B to A. Let’s say the travel time is z hours. Since the plane takes off from B at 8:00 am, it will land in A at 8:00am + z hours, in B’s time. To convert B’s time to A’s time, we need to add x hours to it. Thus, the plane will land in A at 8:00am + z hours + x hours in A’s time. Since the question told us that the plane landed in A at 3:00pm, we have:

8:00am + z hours + x hours = 3:00pm

Thus, z hours + x hours equals the number of hours between 8:00am and 3:00pm, which is 7 hours. That’s why we added x hours in this case.
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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east 03 Jun 2021, 11:35
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This is another of those question where you could potentially go mad trying to solve if you don't get it. you have potentially 3 different speeds, 2 different times and time zone to get mixed up in.

If you're facing this issue, then you could try to solve it intuitively, which works here, but may not work in other questions. here's how: define x as the time difference between B and A. so the time taken on the first journey is 7-x, and on the way back is 4+x. which makes sense if A is to the east of B. now imagine if the speed was the same. Since the distance is the same the time taken should be equal? so 7-x=4+x x=1.5.

1.5 is the approximate value IF the speed is the same. now you know that the speed going east is slower, which means that the time difference shouldn't be so much. so it has to be <1.5 hours and the only option you have is A) 1 hour.
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Cities A and B are in different time zones. A is located 3000 km east 19 Oct 2025, 13:48
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