Ace 

You picked C, which is 2. That is the total number of places the buses meet. But the question asks for meeting points other than the start, so the answer is one less than that.

When two buses go the same way around a loop, they meet every time the faster one gains a full lap on the slower one.

To count the distinct meeting points, put the speed ratio in its simplest form and take the difference of the two numbers.

• The ratio 5 : 3 is already simplest, since 5 and 3 have no common factor.
• So they meet at 5 minus 3 = 2 points around the track.
• One of those 2 points is the starting point itself.

The question says "other than the starting point", so remove that one. 2 minus 1 = 1. The answer is A.

About the other options:

• C (2): the total count, before you take away the start.
• B (3) and D (4): you get these by adding the speed numbers, 5 plus 3. Adding works for buses going in opposite directions, not the same direction.

Then you add the two speed numbers instead of subtracting them. The buses meet at 5 plus 3 = 8 points, or 7 if you leave out the start.

Here is the reason. When the buses go the same way, the gap between them closes slowly, so they meet rarely. When they go opposite ways, they move toward each other and meet far more often.

Two rules to remember:

• Same direction: subtract the speed numbers.
• Opposite directions: add the speed numbers.

Either way, the meeting points are spread evenly around the loop, and one of them is always the start.