document.write( "Question 627061: Need help solving a word problem with drawing a diagram and a table.\r
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document.write( "Olimpiada Ivanova, a world-record holding race-walker, is on one end of a 6-mile track. John Doe, an average walker, is on the other end of the track. The two start walking towards each other and meet in 1/2 hour. If Olimpiada's average speed exceeds John's by 6 mph, find the speed of both walkers.\r
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document.write( "represent your unknown: ?
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document.write( "S=Speed for both walkers
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document.write( "J+6=Olympiada's average speed\r
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document.write( "draw diagram:
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document.write( "fill out a table:
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document.write( "solve equation:
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document.write( "check: \n" );
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Algebra.Com's Answer #394640 by psbhowmick(878)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! Solve it like this. The way you were proceeding is incorrect as the average speed of both are NOT the same.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let the average speed of Olimpiada be x mph. \n" ); document.write( "Then, Joe's average speed is (x-6) mph.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Hence, the distance covered by Olimpiada in 0.5 hr = x/2 miles, and \n" ); document.write( "the distance covered by John in 0.5 hr = (x-6)/2 miles.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Each were at the extreme end of the 6 mile long track and they meet each other in 0.5 hr.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The sum of the distance travelled by them when they met each other is 6 miles. \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Thus, Olimpiada's average speed is 9 mph whereas John's average speed is 3 mph. \n" ); document.write( " |