document.write( "Question 1139188: Evan went on a bike ride of 120 miles. He realized that if he had gone 18 mph faster, he would have arrived 15 hours sooner. How fast did he actually ride?
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Algebra.Com's Answer #756966 by greenestamps(13215) You can put this solution on YOUR website! \n" ); document.write( "An algebraic solution.... \n" ); document.write( "let x be the speed he rode at \n" ); document.write( "Then x+18 is the speed he could have ridden at \n" ); document.write( "The times to go 120 miles at the two speeds are 120/x and 120/(x+18). \n" ); document.write( "The problem says the time would be 15 hours less at the higher speed: \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "x = -24 (nonsense) or x = 6 \n" ); document.write( "His actual speed was 6mph. (A very slow bicycle speed!) \n" ); document.write( "CHECK: \n" ); document.write( "120/6 = 20 \n" ); document.write( "120/(6+18) = 120/24 = 5 \n" ); document.write( "20-5 = 15 \n" ); document.write( "An informal solution -- if algebra is not required.... \n" ); document.write( "Make a list of pairs of numbers whose product is 120 and find two pairs that meet the conditions of the problem. \n" ); document.write( "1*120 \n" ); document.write( "2*60 \n" ); document.write( "3*40 \n" ); document.write( "4*30 \n" ); document.write( "5*24 \n" ); document.write( "6*20 \n" ); document.write( "8*15 \n" ); document.write( "10*12 \n" ); document.write( "The pairs 5*24 and 6*20 satisfy the given conditions: 6+18 = 24; 20-5 = 15. \n" ); document.write( " |