Basic rule is RT=D.
WhichWay speed time distance
DOWN r+8 t 34
UP r-8 t 18
You could assign variables to everything; but for your particular example, .
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Some discussion of the solution:
Making a data table often helps to see what is happening with the numbers.
The variable, t, is for the same amount of time in both directions. The basic uniform travel rates relationship gives
;
and the unknown t can be solved for both of those equations in terms of the unknown r:
and since you know that these two expressions for t must be equal, you can say the equation and solve this for r, the number being asked for in the question.