SOLUTION: John and William leave their home traveling in opposite directions on a straight road. John drives 20 miles per hour faster than William. After 4 hours they are 250 miles apart.

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Question 366208: John and William leave their home traveling in opposite directions on a straight road. John drives 20 miles per hour faster than William. After 4 hours they are 250 miles apart.
a. Define a variable for John's rate. Write an expression for William's rate.
b. Write and solve an equation to find John's rate. Then find William's rate.

Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
John and William leave their home traveling in opposite directions on a straight road. John drives 20 miles per hour faster than William. After 4 hours they are 250 miles apart.
a. Define a variable for John's rate: x mph
Write an expression for William's rate: x-20 mph
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b. Write and solve an equation to find John's rate. Then find William's rate.
They are separating at the rate of x + x-20 = 2x-20 mph.
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Equation:
time*rate = distance
4(2x-20) = 250 miles
8x-80 = 250
8x = 330 miles
x = 41.25
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William's rate = x-20 = 21.25 mph
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Cheers,
Stan H.