SOLUTION: Hi! I'm super confused by this word problem. Here it is: A man walks 31 miles, partly at the rate of 2 miles per hour and the rest at the rate of 5 miles per hour. If he had

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Misc -> SOLUTION: Hi! I'm super confused by this word problem. Here it is: A man walks 31 miles, partly at the rate of 2 miles per hour and the rest at the rate of 5 miles per hour. If he had       Log On

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Question 1128196: Hi!
I'm super confused by this word problem. Here it is:
A man walks 31 miles, partly at the rate of 2 miles per hour and the rest at the rate of 5 miles per hour. If he had walked at the the rate of 5 miles per hour for the same time as he actually walked at the rate of 2 miles per hour, and vice versa, he would have covered 15 miles more than he did. How long did it take him to walk the 31 miles?
Thank you very much!
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
        SPEED        TIME        DISTANCE

        2            x            2x
        5            y            5y
TOTAL                             31


        SPEED        TIME        DISTANCE

        5            x            5x
        2            y            2y
TOTAL                             31+15


system%282x%2B5y=31%2C5x%2B2y=46%29

system%284x%2B10y=62%2C25x%2B10y=230%29

system%28x=8%2Cand%2Cy=3%29

Total time, 11 hours