SOLUTION: Devin went to the park traveling 8 mph and returned home traveling 16 mph. If the total trip took 6 hours, how long did Devin travel at each speed?

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Question 1136004: Devin went to the park traveling 8 mph and returned home traveling 16 mph. If the total trip took 6 hours, how long did Devin travel at each speed?
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, ikleyn:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39625) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
                 SPEED     TIME        DISTANCE

GOING              8        d/8          d

RETURN            16        d/16         d

TOTAL                        6



Note that time going is TWICE the time returning. You could simply say time 2x for going and time x for returning. highlight_green%28x%2B2x=6%29.

x=2

ANSWER:
4 hours going to
2 hours returning

Answer by ikleyn(52855) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Let "t" be the time traveling at the speed of 8 mph.

Then the time traveling at 16 mph is (6-t) hours.


The distance traveled in each direction is the same; it gives you an equation


8t = 16*(6-t).


Simplify and solve it for t:


8t = 16*6 - 16t

8t + 16t = 96

24t = 96    =======>     t = 96/24 = 4 hours traveling at 8 mph.   ANSWER


The rest  6 - 4 = 2 hours traveling at 16 mph.    ANSWER

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You also can notice that for every 2 hours traveling at 8 mph, should be 1 hour traveling at 16 mph.

As soon as you notice it, you can solve the problem mentally, without using equations.


Happy learning !