SOLUTION: a train made a trip of 600 miles between 2 cities. if it averaged 10 miles per hour more, it would have required 2 hours less to take the trip. find the rate of speed of the train.

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Question 749464: a train made a trip of 600 miles between 2 cities. if it averaged 10 miles per hour more, it would have required 2 hours less to take the trip. find the rate of speed of the train.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +s+ = the 1st speed in mi/hr
+s+%2B+10+ = the increased speed in mi/hr
Let +t+ = the train's time at +s+ mi/hr
+t+-+2+ = the train's time at +s+%2B+10+ mi/hr
----------------------
given:
(1) +600+=+s%2At+
(2) +600+=+%28+s+%2B+10+%29%2A%28+t+-+2+%29+
----------------------------
(2) +600+=+s%2At+%2B+10t+-+2s+-+20+
(2) +600+=+s%2A%28+t+-+2+%29+%2B+10t+-+20+
(2) +s%2A%28+t+-+2+%29+=+620+-+10t+
and,
(1) +600+=+s%2At+
(1) +s+=+600%2Ft+
(2) +%28+600%2Ft+%29%2A%28+t+-+2+%29+=+620+-+10t+
(2) +600+-+1200%2Ft+=+620+-+10t+
(2) +10t+-+1200%2Ft+-+20+=+0+
(2) +10t%5E2+-+1200+-+20t+=+0+
(2) +t%5E2+-+2t+-+120+=+0+
Use quadratic formula
+t+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2+-+4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29+%2F+%282%2Aa%29+
+a+=+1+
+b+=+-2+
+c+=+-120+
+t+=+%28-%28-2%29+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-2%29%5E2+-+4%2A1%2A%28-120%29+%29%29+%2F+%282%2A1%29+
+t+=+%28+2+%2B-+sqrt%28+4+%2B+480+%29%29+%2F+2+
+t+=+%28+2+%2B-+sqrt%28+484+%29%29+%2F+2+
+t+=+%28+2+%2B+22%29+%2F+2+ ( can't use negative square root )
+t+=+24%2F2+
+t+=+12+
and
(1) +s+=+600%2Ft+
(1) +s+=+600%2F12+
(1) +s+=+50+
The speed of the train is 50 mi/hr
check:
(1) +600+=+s%2At+
(1) +600+=+50%2A12+
+600+=+600+
and
(2) +600+=+%28+s+%2B+10+%29%2A%28+t+-+2+%29+
(2) +600+=+%28+50+%2B+10+%29%2A%28+12+-+2+%29+
(2) +600+=+60%2A10+
(2) +600+=+600+
OK