SOLUTION: A car travels a distance of 1742 miles at an average rate of 40 mph and returns at an average rate of 55 mph. Find the average rate for the round trip to the nearest tenth.

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Question 257444: A car travels a distance of 1742 miles at an average rate of 40 mph and returns at an average rate of 55 mph. Find the average rate for the round trip to the nearest tenth.
Found 2 solutions by stanbon, nerdybill:
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A car travels a distance of 1742 miles at an average rate of 40 mph and returns at an average rate of 55 mph. Find the average rate for the round trip to the nearest tenth.
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Find the total time:
time = distance/rate
Total time = 1742/40 + 1742/55
= 43.55 + 31.67 hours
= 75.22
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Total distance = 2*1742 = 3484 miles
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Round trip average = distance/time = 3484/75.22 = 46.32 mph
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Cheers,
Stan H.

Answer by nerdybill(7384) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A car travels a distance of 1742 miles at an average rate of 40 mph and returns at an average rate of 55 mph. Find the average rate for the round trip to the nearest tenth.
.
Average rate = "total distance" / "total time"
.
Total distance = 2(1742) = 3484 miles
.
Applying the "distance formula" of d=rt
we can find the time traveled.
Going:
1742/40 = 43.55 hours
Returning:
1742/55 = 31.67 hours
Total time = 43.55+31.67 = 75.22 hours
.
Avg rate = 3484/75.22 = 46.32 = 46.3 mph