>> If that is true then the "opposite " statement is true as well.
> Hmmm. Can you please explain? I'm not sure what you mean.

>>> However, in many (most?) cases, the inelastic
>>> collision will take longer to slow the object than
>>> a pure spring would (when the constant is the
>>> distance required to stop the object).

If the above is true then the next is true as well:

***
However, in many (most?) cases, a pure
spring will take longer to slow the object than
the inelastic collision would (when the constant
is the distance required to stop the object).
***

That is, your statement is equivalent to:

***
the inelastic collision may or may not take longer
to slow the object than a pure spring would (when the
constant is the distance required to stop the object).
***
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