SOLUTION: In some large U.S. cities, the average commute is about 28 miles. How much would it help if people lived closer to where they work? Suppose that half of the commuters reduced their

Question 1039819: In some large U.S. cities, the average commute is about 28 miles. How much would it help if people lived closer to where they work? Suppose that half of the commuters reduced their average commute to 7 miles and the other half still averaged 28 miles. How much would this reduce the overall commuting traffic?
Answer by Theo(13342) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
average commute is 28 miles.

let x = the number of commuters.

the total distance traveled is therefore equal to 28 * x.

if you divide the number of commuters into 2 halves, then the total distance traveled by all commuters is 28 * 1/2 * x + 28 * 1/2 * x = 14 * x + 14 * x = 28 * x.

if half of the commuters drop their commute to 7 miles, then the total distance traveled by all commuters becomes 28 * 1/2 * x + 7 * 1/2 * x = 14 * x + 3.5 * x = 17.5 * x.

the total miles that x people commute becomes 17.5 * x.

the average number of miles that each person commutes becomes 17.5 * x / x = 17.5 miles.

the average commute drops from 28 miles to 17.5 miles.

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