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# Two runners, P and Q, competed in a race of 400 m

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e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Posts: 1245
Two runners, P and Q, competed in a race of 400 m [#permalink]

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Updated on: 23 May 2018, 08:38
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Difficulty:

65% (hard)

Question Stats:

62% (02:50) correct 38% (02:25) wrong based on 21 sessions

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3 common mistakes you must avoid in Distance questions – Practice question 1

Two runners, P and Q, competed in a race of 400 m. P ran at a constant speed of 5 strides in every 2 seconds, covering 10 m in that span. Q started at a constant speed. After running for 1 minute, Q increased its speed by 1 stride per second and finally finished the race at the same time with P. What is Q’s initial speed in kph if Q covered 4 m in every stride?

A. 10 kph
B. 11.5 kph
C. 12.8 kph
D. 13.6 kph
E. 14.4 kph

To solve question 2: Question 2

To read the article: 3 common mistakes you must avoid in Distance questions

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Originally posted by EgmatQuantExpert on 16 May 2018, 07:36.
Last edited by EgmatQuantExpert on 23 May 2018, 08:38, edited 4 times in total.
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Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Posts: 1245
Re: Two runners, P and Q, competed in a race of 400 m [#permalink]

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Updated on: 20 May 2018, 06:25

Solution

Given:
• Two runners, P and Q, competed in a race of 400 m
• P ran at a constant speed of 5 strides in every 2 seconds, covering 10 m in that span
o Hence, in 2 seconds P covered 10 m
Or, speed of P = $$\frac{10}{2}$$ m/s = 5 m/s
• Q started the race at a constant speed
• Q covered 4 m in every stride
• After running for 1 minute, Q increased its speed by 1 stride per second
• Q finished the race, taking the same time as P

To find:
• The initial speed of Q, in kph

Approach and Working:
• As the race distance is 400 m and speed of P is 5 m/s,
o Time taken by P to finish the race = $$\frac{400}{5}$$ secs = 80 seconds
• Given that the time taken by P and Q is same, Q also takes 80 seconds to finish the race
• Let us assume that in the initial 60 seconds, Q took x strides per second
o Therefore, in the last 20 seconds, Q took (x + 1) strides per second
• As Q covers 4 m in every stride, the total distance covered by Q = 4 [60x +20(x + 1)] m
Or, 4 [60x + 20 (x + 1)] = 400
Or, 60x + 20x + 20 = 100
Or, 80x = 80
Or, x = 1 stride/sec
• Given that Q covered 4 m in every stride, the initial speed of Q = 4 m/s = 4 * $$\frac{18}{5}$$ kph = $$\frac{72}{5}$$ kph = 14.4 kph

Hence, the correct answer is option E.

_________________

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Originally posted by EgmatQuantExpert on 16 May 2018, 07:39.
Last edited by EgmatQuantExpert on 20 May 2018, 06:25, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Two runners, P and Q, competed in a race of 400 m [#permalink]

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16 May 2018, 18:34
EgmatQuantExpert wrote:
3 common mistakes you must avoid in Distance questions – Practice question 1

Two runners, P and Q, competed in a race of 400 m. P ran at a constant speed of 5 strides in every 2 seconds, covering 10 m in that span. Q started at a constant speed. After running for 1 minute, Q increased its speed by 1 stride per second and finally finished the race at the same time with P. What is Q’s initial speed in kph if Q covered 4 m in every stride?

A. 10 kph
B. 11.5 kph
C. 12.8 kph
D. 13.6 kph
E. 14.4 kph

Q's race, like P's, lasts (400/10)*2=80 seconds
let x=Q's speed in mps in first minute
60*x+20*(x+4)=400
x=4 mps=14.4 kph
E
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Re: Two runners, P and Q, competed in a race of 400 m [#permalink]

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18 May 2018, 01:53
EgmatQuantExpert wrote:
3 common mistakes you must avoid in Distance questions – Practice question 1

Two runners, P and Q, competed in a race of 400 m. P ran at a constant speed of 5 strides in every 2 seconds, covering 10 m in that span. Q started at a constant speed. After running for 1 minute, Q increased its speed by 1 stride per second and finally finished the race at the same time with P. What is Q’s initial speed in kph if Q covered 4 m in every stride?

A. 10 kph
B. 11.5 kph
C. 12.8 kph
D. 13.6 kph
E. 14.4 kph

To solve question 2: Question 2

To read the article: 3 common mistakes you must avoid in Distance questions

Velocity of P = 10/2 = 5m/sec
The total time taken by P = 400/5 = 80 sec.

Now, out of 80 sec, Q has travelled at a constant speed of a fro 60 sec. Therefore, total distance travelled by Q in 60 Sec = 60a. In the remaining 20 sec... for every 1 Sec the velocity of Q increases by 4m/sec.

400 = 60a + 20a + 80
a = 4m/sec = 14.4kmph
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Re: Two runners, P and Q, competed in a race of 400 m   [#permalink] 18 May 2018, 01:53
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# Two runners, P and Q, competed in a race of 400 m

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