SOLUTION: Bert traveled 72 miles across the state through rain at a reasonable speed. If it had been sunny, he would have driven an average of 20 miles per hour faster, and would have arriv

Algebra.Com
Question 1159329: Bert traveled 72 miles across the state through rain at a reasonable speed. If it had been sunny, he would have driven an average of 20 miles per hour faster, and would have arrived at his destination 24 minutes sooner. How long did his trip take him in the rain? How fast was he driving in the rain?
Hint: First solve a quadratic equation. Then write two equations with two unknowns.

Found 3 solutions by josgarithmetic, jim_thompson5910, ankor@dixie-net.com:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39620)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
                 SPEED       TIME        DISTANCE

IN RAIN           r          72/r           72

IF SUNNY         r+20        72/(r+20)      72

DIFFERENCE                  


.
.

.
.
about 50.83.
and you can evaluate the time from this.

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

For anyone curious where @josgarithmetic got the 2/5 from, it's because
24 minutes = (24 min)*(1 hr/60 min)
24 minutes = (24/60) hour
24 minutes = ( (2*12)/(5*12) ) hour
24 minutes = 2/5 of an hour

Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Bert traveled 72 miles across the state through rain at a reasonable speed.
If it had been sunny, he would have driven an average of 20 miles per hour faster, and would have arrived at his destination 24 minutes sooner.
:
let s = speed in the rain
let t = drive time in the rain
change 24 min 24/60 = .4 hrs, then
(s+20) = sunny speed
(t-.4) = sunny driving time)
Two distance equations
s*t = 72
for substitution
s = 72/t
and
(t-.4)*(s+20) = 72
FOIL
ts + 20t - .4s - 8 = 72
we know ts = 72
72 + 20t - .4s - 8 = 72
-72 from both sided
20t - .4s - 8 = 0
simplify, divide by .4
50t - s - 20
replace s with (72/t)
50t - 72/t - 20 = 0
multiply by t
50t^2 - 72 - 20t = 0
A quadratic equation
50t^2 - 20t - 72 = 0
Using the quadratic formula I got a postive solution of
t = 1.41655 hrs or 1 + .41655*60 = 1 hr 25 min, his time in the rain
:
How fast was he driving in the rain?
= 50.8 mph
:
:
Check this, find his sunny speed. 50.8 + 20 = 70.8 mph
Find his sunny time: = 1.0169 or 1 + .0169*60 = 1 hr 1 min
Which ia 24 min faster than the time in rain


Hint: First solve a quadratic equation. Then write two equations with two unknowns.

RELATED QUESTIONS

Vinnie drives his car 60 miles and has an average of a certain speed. If the average... (answered by josgarithmetic)
Steve traveled 200 miles at a certain speed. Had he gone 10 mph faster, the trip would... (answered by jorel1380)
Thomas drove 60 kilometers at a constant rate of speed. If he had driven 40 kph faster,... (answered by checkley71)
A bus traveled 180 miles. If weather conditions had been better, it could have driven 5... (answered by stanbon,robertb)
Vinnie drives his car 175 miles and has an average of a certain speed. If the average... (answered by josgarithmetic,ikleyn)
Vinnie drives his car 175 miles and has an average of a certain speed. If the average... (answered by josgarithmetic,ikleyn)
Chester drives his car 165 miles and has an average of a certain speed. If the average... (answered by mananth,ikleyn)
A man started driving his car at a certain time from a certain place. On arrival at his... (answered by josgarithmetic)
a pickup truck is driven 280 miles. if it has traveled 5 miles per hour faster , it... (answered by stanbon)