SOLUTION: Smith travels 45 miles going East from the center of the town and Jones travels 70 miles going West from the same point. If Jones averages 5 miles per hour more than Smith and his
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Question 302429: Smith travels 45 miles going East from the center of the town and Jones travels 70 miles going West from the same point. If Jones averages 5 miles per hour more than Smith and his trip took ½ hour longer than Smith’s. How fast was each of them traveling? Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Let = Smith's speed
Then = Jone's speed
Let = Smith's time
Then = Jone's time
Write an equation for each one
For Smith:
For Jones:
This is 2 equations and 2 unknowns, so it's solvable
by substitution:
by substitution again:
Multiply both sides by
Multiply both sides by
Use quadratic formula
There's a choice of 2 answers. I'll try
check: hrs
and hrs hrs
----------------------
also:
check: hrs hrs
There are 2 possibilities:
(1)
Smith traveled 30 mi/hr
Jones traveled 35 mi/hr
(2)
Smith traveled 15 mi/hr
Jones traveled 20 mi/hr
