Last Updated on May 4, 2023
GMAT OFFICIAL GUIDE PS
Solution:
We can classify this problem as a “catch up and pass” rate question. This means that one car is catching up to the other car and passing it by some distance.
Since there is a change in rate as well as a change in distance between the two cars, we can use the formula:
time = (change in distance)/(change in rate)
We are given that car A is 20 miles behind car B and we need to determine the time when car A is 8 miles ahead of car B. Thus, we can say that the change in distance is 20 + 8 = 28 miles.
We are also given that car A travels at a constant speed of 58 mph and car B travels a constant speed of 50 miles per hour. Thus, we can say that the change in rate is 58 – 50 = 8 mph.
We can plug this information into our equation:
time = (change in distance)/(change in rate)
time = 28/8 = 7/2 = 3.5 hours
Answer: E
