Questions on Algebra: Expressions involving variables, substitution answered by real tutors!

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Question 154052This question is from textbook
: Car Travel. A car travels from one town to another at a speed of 32 mph. It it had gone 4 mph faster, it could have made the trip in 1/2 hr less time. How far apart are the towns?This question is from textbook
: Car Travel. A car travels from one town to another at a speed of 32 mph. It it had gone 4 mph faster, it could have made the trip in 1/2 hr less time. How far apart are the towns?
Answer by orca(336) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x be the distance between the two towns.
The lower speed is 32 mph.
The higher speed is 32 + 4 = 36 mph.
The time it take to complete the trip at lower speed is x/32.
The time it take to complete the trip at higher speed is x/36.
As the time difference is 1/2 hour, we have
x/32-x/36=1/2
4*8*9(x/32-x/36)=4*8*9*(1/2) (multiply both sides by 4*8*9)
9x-8x=144
x=144
So the distance between the two towns is 144 miles.