SOLUTION: Margaret drove to a business appointment at 80 mph. Her average speed on the return trip was 70 mph. The return trip took 1/7hr longer because of heavy traffic. How far did she tra

Question 1109022: Margaret drove to a business appointment at 80 mph. Her average speed on the return trip was 70 mph. The return trip took 1/7hr longer because of heavy traffic. How far did she travel to the appointment?
Found 2 solutions by josmiceli, greenestamps:
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let = the one-way distance
Let = time in hrs for the trip at mi/hr
(1)
(2)
----------------------------

and
(1)
The appointment was 80 mi away
----------------------------------
check:
(2)
(2)
(2)
OK

Answer by greenestamps(13198) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

The solution by the other tutor is fine. Here is a different possible approach -- based on the idea that for trips of the same distance, the ratio of speeds is the reciprocal of the ratio of times.

Let x be the time for the trip to the appointment.
The return trip was at a speed 7/8 of the speed going to the appointment; therefore the amount of time required for the return trip was (8/7)x.
We know the return trip took 1/7 hour longer than the trip there:

It took her 1 hour to get to the appointment; at 80mph that means the appointment was 80 miles away.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Okay, margret drove to a business appointment at 50 mph. Her average speed on the return... (answered by josgarithmetic,lwsshak3)
Maria drove to a business appointment at 40 mph. Her average speed on the return trip in (answered by lwsshak3)
in the morning, maria drove to a business appointment at 70 mph. Her average speed on the (answered by Alan3354)
In the morning, Maria drove to a business appointment at 70 mph. Her average speed (answered by fractalier)
In the morning, Maria drove to a business appointment at 70 mph. Her average speed on the (answered by Alan3354)
In the morning, Maria drove to a business appointment at 90 mph. Her average speed on... (answered by Boreal,Alan3354)
In the morning, May drove to an appointment at 50 mph. Her average speed on the return... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)
In the morning, May drove to an appointment at 50 mph. Her average speed on the return... (answered by checkley77)
in the morning May drove to an appointment at 50 mph. her average speed on the return... (answered by mananth)