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Let "r" be your usual rate, and t be the time to walk 24 km at this rate.
Then
rt = 24 (1)
(r+2)*(t-1) = 24. (2)
Transform eq(2) in this way:
rt + 2t - r - 2 = 24. (3)
Take into account that 24 = rt in accordance with (1). So you can cancel the terms rt and 24 in both sides of the equation (3) to get
2t - r - 2 = 0, or simply r = 2t-2 = 2*(t-1).
Next substitute this expression for r, r = 2*(t-1), into eq(1) to get
2(t-1)*t = 24, or t*(t-1) = 12.
Further, you can solve the last equation for t as a quadratic equation, or simply "to guess" the solution t = 4.
So, the answer to the question a) is t = 4 hours (your usual time) and r = = 6 km/h (your usual rate).
Having this, you can easily resolve b) on your own.
Solved.
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To see other similar solved problems, look into the lesson
- Had a car move faster it would arrive sooner
in this site.