Last visit was: 25 Apr 2026, 11:25 It is currently 25 Apr 2026, 11:25
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
rxs0005
Joined: 07 Jun 2004
Last visit: 21 Jun 2017
Posts: 436
Own Kudos:
3,310
 [21]
Given Kudos: 22
Location: PA
Posts: 436
Kudos: 3,310
 [21]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
19
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
whiplash2411
Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Last visit: 02 Mar 2015
Posts: 1,761
Own Kudos:
3,597
 [6]
Given Kudos: 210
Status:Three Down.
Concentration: General Management, Nonprofit
Posts: 1,761
Kudos: 3,597
 [6]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
cleetus
Joined: 25 Jan 2010
Last visit: 01 Oct 2015
Posts: 91
Own Kudos:
800
 [4]
Given Kudos: 40
Location: Calicut, India
Concentration: Finance
Posts: 91
Kudos: 800
 [4]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 25 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,830
Own Kudos:
811,243
 [3]
Given Kudos: 105,884
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,830
Kudos: 811,243
 [3]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rxs0005
Last year Harolds average time to finish the qualifying event was three hours. If he knows that he can increase his speed this year by 20%, how many minutes should it take him to complete the event?

(A) 150
(B) 144
(C) 120
(D) 90
(E) 36

Time, rate and job in work problems are in the same relationship as time, speed (rate) and distance in rate problems.

\(time*speed=distance\) <--> \(time*rate=job \ done\).

So if the rate is 1.2 times more then the time needed to complete the same job will be 1.2 times less: he needs 180 minutes with original rate to do the job --> he'll need 180/1.2=150 minutes to complete the same jon with the rate increased 1.2 times.

Answer: A.

Check this for more on work problem: word-translations-rates-work-104208.html?hilit=relationship%20rate#p812628

Hope it helps.
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 16,441
Own Kudos:
79,412
 [1]
Given Kudos: 485
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,441
Kudos: 79,412
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rxs0005
Last year Harolds average time to finish the qualifying event was three hours. If he knows that he can increase his speed this year by 20%, how many minutes should it take him to complete the event?

(A) 150
(B) 144
(C) 120
(D) 90
(E) 36

Think in terms of ratios, if you will...

For same distance/work,
Old Speed : New Speed = 5 : 6 (An increase of 20%)
So Old Time : New Time = 6 : 5 = 3 hrs: 2.5 hrs
(The ratio will be inverse if work is same because Work = Rate * Time)
New Time = 2.5*60 = 150 minutes
User avatar
TGC
Joined: 03 Aug 2012
Last visit: 19 Jul 2017
Posts: 572
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 322
Concentration: General Management, General Management
GMAT 1: 630 Q47 V29
GMAT 2: 680 Q50 V32
GPA: 3.7
WE:Information Technology (Finance: Investment Banking)
GMAT 2: 680 Q50 V32
Posts: 572
Kudos: 3,621
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Simple And sober approach:

We know that , Rate * Time = Work, now work being constant we can write.

Time = Work/Rate

Instance 1: 3=w/r

Instance 2: t=w/1.2r

Dividing 1/2 => t=2.5 hours = 150 minutes

Rgds,
TGC!
User avatar
reto
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 29 Apr 2015
Last visit: 24 Aug 2018
Posts: 716
Own Kudos:
4,304
 [1]
Given Kudos: 302
Location: Switzerland
Concentration: Economics, Finance
Schools: LBS MIF '19
WE:Asset Management (Finance: Investment Banking)
Schools: LBS MIF '19
Posts: 716
Kudos: 4,304
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
rxs0005
Last year Harolds average time to finish the qualifying event was three hours. If he knows that he can increase his speed this year by 20%, how many minutes should it take him to complete the event?

(A) 150
(B) 144
(C) 120
(D) 90
(E) 36

Time, rate and job in work problems are in the same relationship as time, speed (rate) and distance in rate problems.

\(time*speed=distance\) <--> \(time*rate=job \ done\).

So if the rate is 1.2 times more then the time needed to complete the same job will be 1.2 times less: he needs 180 minutes with original rate to do the job --> he'll need 180/1.2=150 minutes to complete the same jon with the rate increased 1.2 times.

Why is my approach not working, could you check where it is flawed?

Check this for more on work problem: word-translations-rates-work-104208.html?hilit=relationship%20rate#p812628

Hope it helps.

Rate * Time = Job Done
1/180 * 180 = 1
1/144 * 144 = 1 (New Rate is 20% faster, hence 180 - 0.2*180 = 144 (NOT 150)). What's wrong with that? I see that the difference here is, you divide 180 by 1.2 - but i don't get it why "20% faster" is 180/1.2 instead of 180 - 0.2*180 ...

Please help

Thank you very much

Answer: A.
User avatar
gracie
Joined: 07 Dec 2014
Last visit: 11 Oct 2020
Posts: 1,028
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 27
Posts: 1,028
Kudos: 2,023
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
if his speed increases by 6/5,
his time will decrease by 5/6
5/6*180=150 minutes
avatar
hsbinfy
Joined: 02 Mar 2012
Last visit: 13 Nov 2017
Posts: 190
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 4
Schools: Schulich '16
Schools: Schulich '16
Posts: 190
Kudos: 325
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rate increase >time will be less, or
rate decrease>more time

here the rate increased 1.2 times..so time to finish the event will be less than 180 minutes =180/1.2=150 min
User avatar
deepthit
Joined: 24 Oct 2013
Last visit: 29 Apr 2023
Posts: 104
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 129
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 104
Kudos: 61
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
x(3) = 3x ->>> equ 1
1.20x (time) = 3x

time = 3x/1.2x *(60) because question is asking about minutes

time = 3*50 = 150 minutes
User avatar
rohit8865
Joined: 05 Mar 2015
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 815
Own Kudos:
1,008
 [1]
Given Kudos: 45
Products:
Posts: 815
Kudos: 1,008
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rxs0005
Last year Harolds average time to finish the qualifying event was three hours. If he knows that he can increase his speed this year by 20%, how many minutes should it take him to complete the event?

(A) 150
(B) 144
(C) 120
(D) 90
(E) 36

work completed in 3hr
it means rate or speed =1/3
rate after increase of 20% =1/3*6/5 = 2/5
thus time needed =5/2 =2.5 hrs =150mnts

Ans A
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,985
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,985
Kudos: 1,118
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109829 posts
Tuck School Moderator
852 posts