Train A started from Station X toward Station Y traveling at a constant speed, and on the same day, on a parallel track, Train B started from Station Y toward Station X at a constant speed. At what time did Train A reach Station Y?To determine the time at which Train A reached Station Y, we need some information about the time of day at which the trains were traveling and, unless that information is the time of day at which Train A reached Station Y, we'll also need some information indicating Train A's speed.
(1) The two trains met at 3:00 p.m. The distance traveled by Train A was twice the distance traveled by Train B by the time they met.This choice does mention a time of day, 3:00 pm.
However, since the trains could have traveled for any amount of time before and after they met, this information is not sufficient for determining when Train A reached Station Y.
Insufficient.
(2) The ratio between the speeds of Trains A and B is 3:5. Train B started from Station Y at 6:00 a.m.This choice does mention a time of day, 6:00 am.
However, since it doesn't provide reference points or other information, such as distance, the exact speed of either train, when Train A departed, or when either train arrived at its destination, that we can use to determine when either train arrived at its destination, this choice is not sufficient for answering the question.
Insufficient.
(1) and (2) combinedCombined, the two statements provide reference points and other information sufficient for determining when Train A reached Station Y. Here's how.
From statement (1):
The two trains met at 3:00 p.m. The distance traveled by Train A was twice the distance traveled by Train B by the time they met.So, A was 2/3 of the way from Station X to Station Y when they met at 3:00 pm, and Train B had traveled 1/3 of the distance between the stations.
From statement (2):
Train B started from Station Y at 6:00 a.m.So, it took Train B from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm, or 9 hours, to travel 1/3 of the way. Thus, we now know Train B's rate in terms of the route: the entire route will take Train B 27 hours.
From statement (2):
The ratio between the speeds of Trains A and B is 3:5.Since we can calculate Train B's rate from the previous information, we can use that rate along with this information from statement (2) to calculate Train A's rate, which is 3/5 of Train B's rate.
We also know from the previous information that Train A has 1/3 of the route left to travel at 3:00 pm.
We don't need to calculate the actual time of arrival of Train A. All we have to do is see that, knowing Train A's rate and how much of the route Train A had left to travel at 3:00 pm, we could calculate when Train A arrived at Station Y.
Sufficient.
Correct answer: C