document.write( "Question 556604: Deni walks to work and back on the same path. She walks on level ground at 4 MPH, uphill at 3 1/3 MPH, and downhill at 5 MPH. To get to work, she walks first on level ground and then up a hill. If her total time for the round trip is 2 1/2 hours, how many miles does she travel to work?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "This problem has been stressing me out because i know that i have to set something = 2 1/2 hours but i have only delt with two other speeds, not 6 or 3 depending on how you look at it.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Thank you for the help
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #362212 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Deni walks to work and back on the same path.
\n" ); document.write( " She walks on level ground at 4 MPH, uphill at 3 1/3 MPH, and downhill at 5 MPH.
\n" ); document.write( " To get to work, she walks first on level ground and then up a hill.
\n" ); document.write( " If her total time for the round trip is 2 1/2 hours, how many miles does she travel to work?
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Let x = level ground dist
\n" ); document.write( "Let y = hill distance
\n" ); document.write( ":\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We can write a time equation for the round trip: time = dist/speed:
\n" ); document.write( "\"x%2F4\" + \"y%2F3.33\" + \"y%2F5\" + \"x%2F4\" = 2.5
\n" ); document.write( "\"%282x%29%2F4\" + \"y%2F3.33\" + \"y%2F5\" = 2.5
\n" ); document.write( "multiply thru by 4*3.33*5 = 66.66 to clear the denominators, cancel we have:
\n" ); document.write( "16.665(2x) + 20y + 13.333y = 66.66(2.5)
\n" ); document.write( "33.333x + 20y + 13.333y = 166.66
\n" ); document.write( "33.333x + 33.333y = 166.66
\n" ); document.write( "33.333y = -33.333x + 166.66
\n" ); document.write( "divide thru by 33.333 and we have a simple equaiton
\n" ); document.write( "y = -x + 5
\n" ); document.write( "From this equation we can find an x,y combination that will make sense
\n" ); document.write( "there are more than one set of solutions to this
\n" ); document.write( "Let x = 2 mi on the level
\n" ); document.write( "y = -2 + 5
\n" ); document.write( "then
\n" ); document.write( "y = 3 mi on the hill
\n" ); document.write( "therefore:
\n" ); document.write( "2 + 3 + 3 + 2 = 10 miles to work
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "see if this checks out time-wise
\n" ); document.write( "\"2%2F4\" + \"3%2F3.33%29%29%29+%2B+%7B%7B%7B3%2F5\" + \"2%2F4\" =
\n" ); document.write( ".5 + .9 + .6 + .5 = 2.5 hrs
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "It's interesting that any of the positive solutions will add up 10 miles which is what they want
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );