Two cars A and B start from Boston and New York respectively

Question

Two cars A and B start from Boston and New York respectively simultaneously and travel towards each other at constant speeds along the same route. After meeting at a point between Boston and New York the two cars A and B proceed to their respective destinations of New York and Boston. Car A reaches New York 40 minutes after the two cars have met and Car B reaches Boston 90 minutes after they have met. How long did Car A take to cover the distance between Boston and New York?

A. 1 hour
B. 1 hour 10 minutes
C. 2 hours 30 minutes
D. 1 hour 40 minutes
E. 2 hours 10 minutes

A. 1 hour
B. 1 hour 10 minutes
C. 2 hours 30 minutes
D. 1 hour 40 minutes
E. 2 hours 10 minutes

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Look at the diagram below: https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?id=17261 The rate of car A is a and the rate of B is b ; The distance covered by A before the meeting point is x and the distance covered by B before the meeting point is y ; Time before meeting t . Since car A covered the distance of y in 40 minutes then the rate of car A = distance/time = a=\frac{y}{40} , but the same distance of y was covered by car B in t minutes, so y=bt --> a=\frac{bt}{40} ; Since car B covered the distance of x in 90 minutes then the rate of car B = distance/time = b=\frac{x}{90} , but the same distance of x was covered by car A in t minutes, so x=at --> b=\frac{at}{90} ; Substitute b in the first equation: a=\frac{at}{90}*\frac{t}{40} --> reduce by a and cross-multiply: t^2=3600 --> t=60 minutes, hence it took car A 60+40=100 minutes to cover the whole distance. Answer: D. Hope it's clear. Boston - New York.png

paragkan · Answer

If two objects A and B start from opposite points and, after having met en route, reach their respective destinations in a and b mins (or any other measure of time) respectively, then the ratio of their speeds

\frac{Sa}{Sb} = \sqrt{\frac{Time taken by B}{Time taken by A}}

Hence:

\frac{Sa}{Sb} = \sqrt{\frac{90}{40}} 
 \frac{Sa}{Sb} = \frac{3}{2}

Hence, time taken by A to cover the same distance which B covers in 90 minutes is:

Ta =  \frac{90*2}{3} 
Ta = 60 minutes

Hence, total time of A = 40 minutes + 60 minutes = 1 hour 40 minutes

kartik222 · Answer

hi Bunuel, Thanks a lot for the explanation.

Is there any general concept I can follow in these speed, rate, and distance questions. I mean looking at the question I had no fixed approach towards the answer because I saw felt information was too little. It would more helpful if you can share how do YOU approach these type questions. p.s: Kudos +1 thanks,

Bunuel · Answer

This post might help: distance-speed-time-word-problems-made-easy-87481.html

paragkan · Answer

I read that formula in some book. I have not derived it

Bunuel · Answer

You can derive it from the formulas in my solution:

a=\frac{bt}{40}  -->  t=\frac{40a}{b} ;
 b=\frac{at}{90}  -->  t=\frac{90b}{a} ;

So,  \frac{40a}{b}=\frac{90b}{a}  -->  \frac{a}{b}=\frac{3}{2} .

eaakbari · Answer

Great formula. I solved the question the conventional way but took a whopping 4.5 minutes to do so. It took 2 minutes to figure out itself. :shock:

The formula will surely help.

sauravleo123 · Answer

Bunuel,
You are a genius Hats off to you. I can die to have brains like you.

KarishmaB · Answer

There are many formulas that you can learn to cover the various specific question demands but it is not feasible to remember them all. It will be much better if you try to logically figure it out in case you are unable to recall the formula at crunch time.

Think of the situation when they meet:

(Boston) A->____________________M_________<-B (New York)

A starts from Boston and B from New York simultaneously. After some time, say t mins of travel, they meet at M. Since A covers the entire distance of Boston to New York in (t + 40) mins and B covers it in (t + 90) mins, A is certainly faster than B and hence the point M is closer to New York.

Distance between Boston and M/Distance between M and New York = Time taken to go from Boston to M/Time taken to go from M to New York = t/40 = 90/t
t = 60 mins
(distance varies directly with time)

So A takes 60 mins + 40 mins = 1 hr 40 mins to cover the entire distance.

WholeLottaLove · Answer

Two cars A and B start from Boston and New York respectively simultaneously and travel towards each other at constant speeds along the same route. After meeting at a point between Boston and New York the two cars A and B proceed to their respective destinations of New York and Boston. Car A reaches New York 40 minutes after the two cars have met and Car B reaches Boston 90 minutes after they have met. How long did Car A take to cover the distance between Boston and New York?

A. 1 hour
B. 1 hour 10 minutes
C. 2 hours 30 minutes
D. 1 hour 40 minutes
E. 2 hours 10 minutes

Both cars leave at the same time
Both cars travel at constant speed

Stealing a useful piece of information from Paragkan:

If two objects A and B start from opposite points and, after having met en route, reach their respective destinations in a and b mins (or any other measure of time) respectively, then the ratio of their speeds

ratio of speed: (a/b) = sq. rt(b/a)
sq. rt(b/a)
sq. rt(90/40)
sq. rt(3/2)

So, for every three units of distance A travels, B travels two. Because we know the ratio of speed and the time it took B to travel the distance A hasn't yet covered, we can find the time it took A to cover the distance B did in 90 minutes.

90*(2/3)  where 2/3 represents the lesser amount of time it took A to travel the distance B did in 90 minutes.

= 60 minutes.

Therefore, A took 40 minutes to travel the first portion then 60 minutes to travel the distance B did in 90 minutes. A spent (40+60)=100 minutes on the road.

D. 1 hour 40 minutes

Bunuel, in your explanation, for a you had speed of a=y/40 which I understand, but why then do you solve for the distance of b? Why wouldn't I do this in other similar problems I have solved? thanks!

ramannanda9 · Answer

To put it in simpler terms

Let x be the distance traveled by A and y be the distance traveled by B and let a and b be the respective rates

So as before meeting they travel for the same time. Let that time be t

Now,
we can say that as distance traveled by A before meeting B is the same as the distance traveled by B after meeting A and vice-verse

So, 1) a*t=b*90 
2) b*t=a*40

Now to solve this, It depends upon what is required: We can either substitute value of b to get t 
or divide 1)/2) to get ratio of speeds.

If we follow the first approach we get
a*t=b*90 => a=90b/t ---(1)
from 2nd we get b=a*40/t ---(2)
a=90*a*40/t*t
=>t*t=3600 t=60 mins

On the other hand if we were to divide it we would get the formula for speed ratios
a/b=b/a*(90/40)
a^2/b^2=90/40
=>a/b=3/2 and this is how the formula was reached at.

idinuv · Answer

Do you mean to say:
 \frac{Distance Between Boston And M}{Distance Between M And New York} = \frac{Time Taken To Go From Boston To M}{Time Taken To Go From M to New York} = \frac{t}{40} = \frac{90}{t}

Can you please explain how have you got distance as 't'. Time taken has been assumed as 't'.

KarishmaB · Answer

I did not take the distance at 't'. 't' has been assumed to be the time taken for them to meet after starting from their respective starting points.

When speed of an object stays constant, the ratio of distance traveled is equal to the ratio of time taken. In 1 hr, it travels 20 miles. In 2 hrs, 40 miles and so on... 
Now look at only car A. 
It travels from Boston to M in t mins and from M to New York in 40 mins.

\frac{Time Taken ByATo Go From Boston To M}{Time TakenByA To Go From M to New York} = \frac{t}{40}

But, we discussed that ratio of distances will be the same as ratio of Time take so
 \frac{Distance Between Boston And M}{Distance Between M And New York} = \frac{Time Taken ByATo Go From Boston To M}{Time TakenByA To Go From M to New York} = \frac{t}{40}

Similarly, considering car B, we get 
 \frac{Distance Between Boston And M}{Distance Between M And New York} = \frac{Time Taken ByATo Go From Boston To M}{Time TakenByA To Go From M to New York} = \frac{90}{t}

Note that both t/40 and 90/t are the ratios of  \frac{Distance Between Boston And M}{Distance Between M And New York}  so they will be equal.

Does it all make sense now?

Arrive · Answer

Let's say it took A and B each t minutes to reach to the point they meet. It took A 40 minutes to cover the distance it took B in t minutes. Can we derive the distance? Not really, but we can apply the rate formula here: distance covered by A after meeting = distance covered by B before meeting --> 90*Sb = t*Sa (whereby Sb is the speed of B and Sa is the speed of A). Similarly distance covered by B after meeting = distance covered by A before meeting --> 40*Sa = t*Sb ==> Sb = (t*Sa)/90 ==> substituting Sb into first equation gives 40*Sa = (t^{2}*Sa)/90 ==> 40 = t^2/90 ==> t^2=3600 ==> t=60. Thus, it took a t+40=60+40=100 minutes to travel from Boston to New York.

rohit8865 · Answer

since time taken to cover rest distance after they met =A/B=40/90
so thier speed must be in ratio √B/A==3/2

now let the time covered when they met =t
then after meeting and reaching the destination will have same distance
total distance by A = 3(40+t)
total distance by B = 2(90+t)

since distance is same
 3(40+t)=2(90+t)
t=60mints

total time by A =40+60 minutes
1hr 40mints

Ans D

ccooley · Answer

The answer choices look pretty easy, so I'm going to plug them in.

Start with B . If car A took 1 hr 10 minutes in total, then:

- car A spent 30 minutes on the Boston-meeting leg, and 40 minutes on the meeting-NY leg. 
- car B spent 30 minutes on the NY-meeting leg (since they left at the same time), and 90 minutes on the meeting-Boston leg.

But that doesn't make sense. Between Boston and the meeting, Car A was 3 times as fast as Car B. Between NY and the meeting, Car A was actually slower than Car B. Let's try another answer choice.

Check D . If car A took 1 hr 40 minutes in total, then:

- car A spent 60 minutes on the Boston-meeting leg, and 40 minutes on the meeting-NY leg. 
- car B spent 60 minutes on the NY-meeting leg (since they left at the same time), and 90 minutes on the meeting-Boston leg.

So between Boston and the meeting, car B took 1.5x as long (90/60) as car A. Between NY and the meeting, car B took 1.5x as long (60/40) as car A. That all checks out, so D is right.

subrataroy0210 · Answer

Solution attached

Sandeep570 · Answer

I have solved using a different approach and am getting E as the answer, can you please let me know what have I done wrong

Assume total distance = d
Assume total time = t

Assume distance covered by A by the time it meets B = kd 
kd is covered in (t-40) min by A and in 90 min by B

Similarly the remaining distance covered by A will be (1-k)d which is covered in 40 min
The same distance (1-k)d will be covered by B in (t-90) min

Now, because the rate is constant for A for the entire distance and similarly for B
I came up with below eqns

kd/(t-40) = (1-k)d/40
(1-k)d/(t-90) = kd/90

On solving these equations, I am getting 2hr 10 min as the answer

Can you please help

SVaidyaraman · Answer

The time to cover the remaining distance varies because the speed of the two trains vary and the remaining distance varies. The remaining distance varies because the speed varies.

So t1/t2 = (speed2/speed1)* (distremaining2/distremaining1)

As per our reasoning it is: 4/9= (speed2/speed1)*(speed2/speed1)

So speed2/speed1=2/3 . So if train B took 90 min to travel its remaining distance, train A would take (2/3)*90=60 min

Total time = 60+40=100 min

Two cars A and B start from Boston and New York respectively

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GMAT Problem Solving (PS) Questions

Two cars A and B start from Boston and New York respectively

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards