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# A transcontinental jet travels at a rate of x – 100 mph with

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Senior Manager
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A transcontinental jet travels at a rate of x – 100 mph with [#permalink]  01 Oct 2017, 04:30
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A transcontinental jet travels at a rate of x – 100 mph with a headwind and x + 100 mph with a tailwind between Wavetown and Urbanio, two cities 3,200 miles apart. If it takes the jet 2 hr 40 minutes longer to complete the trip with a headwind, then what is the jet’s rate flying with a tailwind?

(A) 500

(B) 540

(C) 600

(D) 720

(E) Cannot be determined by the information given.

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Re: A transcontinental jet travels at a rate of x – 100 mph with [#permalink]  01 Oct 2017, 06:37
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Bunuel wrote:
A transcontinental jet travels at a rate of x – 100 mph with a headwind and x + 100 mph with a tailwind between Wavetown and Urbanio, two cities 3,200 miles apart. If it takes the jet 2 hr 40 minutes longer to complete the trip with a headwind, then what is the jet’s rate flying with a tailwind?

(A) 500

(B) 540

(C) 600

(D) 720

(E) Cannot be determined by the information given.

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quick way is to plug the values,

Let take option C

therefore tailwind rate is = x+100 = 600

Now putting the values in $$speed= \frac{dist}{time}$$ formula

we get $$600 = \frac{3200}{time}$$

or time = 5 hr 20 min

now calculating for headwind we have

since we have taken x+100 = 600 or x= 500

therefore headwind speed = x-100 = 500-100= 400

Putting the value in $$speed = \frac{distance}{time}$$
we get $$time = \frac{3200}{400} = 8 hour$$ which exactly 2 hr 40 mins addition to tailwind. So ans is 600.

When putting the values in the equation it is better to choose from option C and then depending on the result we can go above C or below C.
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Re: A transcontinental jet travels at a rate of x – 100 mph with [#permalink]  13 Oct 2017, 05:16
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3200 / (x-100) - 3200 / (x+100) = 8/3 (Hrs)

By Solving this equation we can get the answer
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Re: A transcontinental jet travels at a rate of x – 100 mph with [#permalink]  13 Oct 2017, 05:20
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Another method is by puting the values of X As 500,540,600,720

First put the value of x as 500
Speeds are 400 and 600
time taken to travel 3200 is 8 hrs and 5 hrs 20 mins.
Difference in time is 2 hrs 40 min as given in the problem
so speed with tailwind is x+100 = 500+100 = 6

This will definately save time.

if the 500 does not work go with the choice 600 as it is easy to eliminate this choice first
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Re: A transcontinental jet travels at a rate of x – 100 mph with [#permalink]  05 Apr 2018, 11:54
Pranab01's solution, by plugging in answers, is the best way. But I wanted to point out why the algebra is a bad idea.

ALGEBRAIC METHOD:

If you decide to solve using algebra, you'd make a couple of equations using the rate formula: RT = D

(x + 100)t = 3200
and
(x - 100)(t + 2 2/3) = 3200

If you ever have two equations in which two variables are multiplied, and then a bit has been added or subtracted and they're multiplied again, this will turn into a quadratic equation. And not a nice one. Quadratics can be solved of course, but hidden quadratics like this usually can't be solved very quickly because there will be like 15 steps. So if you ever see any equation like this, go straight to the answer choices! It's guaranteed to be easier.

If you're going to plug in, as pranab01 did, don't just start with A. Usually you want to start with one of the middle answers so that if it's too large, you know to pick a smaller answer. It's also a good idea to try to pick whichever numbers will be easiest to deal with. Since C, 600, fulfills both categories, I'd start with C, and it's probably not a coincidence that C is the correct answer. For details on the plug-in method see pranab01's response.
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Re: A transcontinental jet travels at a rate of x – 100 mph with   [#permalink] 05 Apr 2018, 11:54
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