SOLUTION: Samantha drove a total of 641.5 miles in two legs of a trip. In the first part of her trip, she drove at a constant speed for 5.5 hours. In the second part of her trip, she dro

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Question 1205193: Samantha drove a total of 641.5
miles in two legs of a trip. In the first part of her trip, she drove at a constant speed for 5.5
hours. In the second part of her trip, she drove 10
miles per hour slower, and drove for 6
hours. How fast was Samantha driving in each leg of the trip?
Answer by ikleyn(52756) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Samantha drove a total of 641.5 miles in two legs of a trip.
In the first part of her trip, she drove at a constant speed for 5.5 hours.
In the second part of her trip, she drove 10 miles per hour slower,
and drove for 6 hours. How fast was Samantha driving in each leg of the trip?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Let x be her rate in the first part of the trip, in miles per hour.

Then in the second part of the trip, her rate was (x-10) mph.


Write the total distance equation

    5.5x + 6*(x-10) = 641.5  miles.


Solve this equiation to find x

    5.5x + 6x - 60 = 641.5

    5.5x + 6x = 641.5 + 60

       11.5x  =    701.5

           x  =    701.5%2F11.5 = 61.


ANSWER.  Her rate was 61 mph in the first part and 61-10 = 51 mph in the second part.

Solved.