SOLUTION: 3. Steve traveled 600 miles at a certain speed. Had he gone 20mph faster, the trip would have taken 1 hour less. Find the speed of his vehicle. y=time xy=600 (x+20)(y-1)=600

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas  -> Quadratic Equations Lessons  -> Quadratic Equation Lesson -> SOLUTION: 3. Steve traveled 600 miles at a certain speed. Had he gone 20mph faster, the trip would have taken 1 hour less. Find the speed of his vehicle. y=time xy=600 (x+20)(y-1)=600       Log On


   



Question 80653: 3. Steve traveled 600 miles at a certain speed. Had he gone 20mph faster, the trip would have taken 1 hour less. Find the speed of his vehicle.
y=time
xy=600
(x+20)(y-1)=600
Now what do I do?

Found 2 solutions by ankor@dixie-net.com, josmiceli:
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Steve traveled 600 miles at a certain speed. Had he gone 20mph faster, the trip would have taken 1 hour less. Find the speed of his vehicle.
y=time
xy=600
(x+20)(y-1)=600
Now what do I do?
:
I would do it this way:
:
Let x = original speed
Then (x+20) = faster speed (as you had)
:
Write a time equation: Time = dist/speed
:
Original time - 1 = Faster time
%28600%2Fx%29 - 1 = 600%2F%28x%2B20%29
:
Multiply equation by x(x+20) and you have:
600(x+20) - x(x+20) = 600x
:
600x + 12000 - x^2 - 20x = 600x
:
-x^2 - 20x + 600x - 600x + 12000 = 0
:
-x^2 - 20x + 12000 = 0
:
x^2 + 20x - 120000 = 0: multiplied equation by 0 (easier to factor)
:
Factors to:
(x+120)(x-100) = 0
:
x = +100, the positive solution is what we want here
:
Check:
600/100 - 1 = 600/120; proves our solution

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This is the way I do it
d = distance
s = speed
t = time
600+%2F+s+=+t
600+%2F+%28s%2B20%29+=+t+-+1
substitute
600+%2F+%28s%2B20%29+=+600%2Fs+-+1
600%2F%28s%2B20%29+-+600%2Fs+=+-1
600%281%2F%28s%2B20%29+-+1%2Fs%29+=+-1
1%2F%28s%2B20%29+-+1%2Fs+=+-600
1%2Fs+-+1%2F%28s%2B20%29+=+600
the common denominator is s%28s%2B20%29
%28s+%2B+20+-s%29+%2F+s%28s%2B20%29+=+600
s%28s%2B20%29+=+12000
s%5E2+%2B+20s+-+12000+=+0
s+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+
s+=+%28-20+%2B-+sqrt%28+20%5E2-4%2A1%2A%28-12000%29+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29
s+=+%28-20+%2B-+sqrt%28400+%2B+48000%29%29+%2F+2
s+=+%28-20+%2B-+220%29+%2F+2
s+=+100 (reject the negative answer)
check the answer
600+%2F+s+=+t
600+%2F+%28s%2B20%29+=+t+-+1
600%2F100+=+6
600+%2F+120+=+6+-+1
5+=+5
OK