Last visit was: 25 Apr 2026, 08:01 It is currently 25 Apr 2026, 08:01
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
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 25 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,827
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,878
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,827
Kudos: 811,208
 [16]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
13
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
ynaikavde
Joined: 22 Jul 2011
Last visit: 21 Jun 2024
Posts: 71
Own Kudos:
366
 [4]
Given Kudos: 42
Status:Gmat Prep
Posts: 71
Kudos: 366
 [4]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 25 Apr 2026
Posts: 11,229
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 335
Status:Math and DI Expert
Location: India
Concentration: Human Resources, General Management
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Posts: 11,229
Kudos: 45,017
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 25 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,827
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,878
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,827
Kudos: 811,208
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
An automotive test consisted of driving a car the same distance three separate times, first at an average rate of 40 miles per hour, then 50 miles per hour, then 60 miles per hour. If the test took 37 hours to complete, how many miles was the car driven during the entire test?

A. 400
B. 600
C. 1200
D. 1800
E. 2400


Kudos for a correct solution.

VERITAS PREP OFFICIAL SOLUTION

Correct Answer: D

Explanation: Solution: D If the distance for each drive is d, then the time for each drive is d divided by the rate for that drive. The sum of all the times is given: 37 hours. Therefore, d/40 + d/50 + d/60 = 37.

With a common denominator of 600, we can write this as 15d/600 + 12d/600 + 10d/600 = 37, and therefore 37d/600 = 37. This means that d = 600. All together the car was driven 3 times, so it was driven 1800 miles.
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatRichC
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,777
Own Kudos:
13,049
 [1]
Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,777
Kudos: 13,049
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi All,

This question (and its answers) are full of Number Property rules and patterns that you can take advantage of. It can easily be solved by TESTing THE ANSWERS.

We're told that a driving test drove the SAME distance at 3 different speeds: 40mph, 50mph and 60mph. We're also told that the TOTAL time for these 3 tests was 37 hours. We're asked for the TOTAL distance traveled.

To start, 37 hours EXACTLY is an interesting number. Given the speeds that we have to work with (and the total of 37 hours), we're probably NOT going to be dealing with fractions, so it's likely that we're looking for a distance that is a MULTIPLE of 40, 50 and 60. Also, IF we had driven the entire 37 hours at 40 mph (which we know that we didn't), we'd have gone OVER 1200 miles. Since some of that time was spent going 50mph and 60mph, the distance is clearly much GREATER than 1200 miles.

This leaves us with just 2 possible answer choices: D and E.

Let's TEST Answer D:
IF....
Total distance = 1800 miles, then each "leg" of the trip = 600 miles.

600 miles at 40mph = 15 hours
600 miles at 50mph = 12 hours
600 miles at 60mph = 10 hours
Total time = 15+12+10 = 37 hours.
This is a MATCH for what we were told.

Final Answer:
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
avatar
PareshGmat
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
Last visit: 10 Jul 2016
Posts: 1,531
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 193
Status:The Best Or Nothing
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Technology
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 1,531
Kudos: 8,277
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Answer = D = 1800

Let the total distance covered = d

Its divided into 3 equal segments of d/3

Setting up the time equation

\(\frac{d}{40*3} + \frac{d}{50*3} + \frac{d}{60*3} = 37\)

d = 1800
avatar
ajdse22
Joined: 17 Aug 2015
Last visit: 30 Nov 2019
Posts: 76
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 196
Posts: 76
Kudos: 88
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The question is fairly a simple one. However, I see a trap answer of B. This is trapping those who fall into a classic mistake pattern - READ THE QUESTION and then KEEPING TRACK.

The question asks for a total distance that is driven and not the distance for each trip , which is a constant. If we are solving for
37 = d/40+d/50+d/60, then we get d = 600. Forgetting to track what the question asked will lead us to B. The question asks for 3*d = 1800.

I have made that same error. I understand that if we were not making timing decisions along the test wisely, we may be tempted to make an error. The test is taking advantage right there!
Be careful guys :)
avatar
TarunKumar1234
Joined: 14 Jul 2020
Last visit: 28 Feb 2024
Posts: 1,102
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 351
Location: India
Posts: 1,102
Kudos: 1,357
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Given,
Total time = 37 = \(t_1 + t_2 + t_3\) = \(\frac{D}{40} + \frac{D}{50} + \frac{D}{60}\)
or, 37 = D*\(\frac{37}{600}\) or, D = 600

Total distance = 600*3 = 1800.

So, It is D. :)
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,984
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,984
Kudos: 1,117
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
109827 posts
Tuck School Moderator
852 posts