SOLUTION: On Saturday morning, Ahmed decided to take a bike ride from one end of the 15-mile bike trail to the other end of the bike trail and back. His average speed the first half of the r

Algebra ->  Functions -> SOLUTION: On Saturday morning, Ahmed decided to take a bike ride from one end of the 15-mile bike trail to the other end of the bike trail and back. His average speed the first half of the r      Log On


   



Question 1118392: On Saturday morning, Ahmed decided to take a bike ride from one end of the 15-mile bike trail to the other end of the bike trail and back. His average speed the first half of the ride was 2mph faster than his speed on the second half. 2mph faster than his speed on the second half. Find an expression for Ahmed's total travel time. If his average speed for the first half of the ride was 12mph, how long was Ahmed's bike ride?
Speed: x+2
Speed: X
Trial length: 15 miles

Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, greenestamps:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39613) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If total trip was 15 miles done in two equal halves-----not this...

---------------------------------------------------------------
... rom one end of the 15-mile bike trail to the other end of the bike trail and back. His average speed the first half of the ride was 2mph faster than his speed on the second half...
---------------------------------------------------------------
, then
r, travel rate for second half
r+2, travel rate for first half

15%2F%28r%2B2%29%2B15%2Fr-----travel time expression, total
Simplify this.



--
(Fraction Arithmetic Skills)
.
.
highlight%28%29

Answer by greenestamps(13195) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


The trail is 15 miles long, and he rode the whole trail one way and then back. Using what you show "x" and "x+2" for the speeds on the two parts, the total time (distance divided by rate) is

15%2F%28x%2B2%29%2B15%2Fx

The question asks for AN expression for the total travel time; so there is no need to simplify that expression.

If his average speed for the first half was 12mph, then his average for the second half was 10mph; the total time in hours is then

15%2F12+%2B+15%2F10+=+5%2F4+%2B+3%2F2+=+11%2F4

The total travel time was 11/4 hours, or 2 3/4 hours, or 2 hours 45 minutes.