SOLUTION: Can you please help me solve this problem. Underneath the problem is the work I have done so far. Judy averaged 42 miles per hour(mph) driving from Allentown to Harrisburg and 5

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Question 528062: Can you please help me solve this problem. Underneath the problem is the work I have done so far.
Judy averaged 42 miles per hour(mph) driving from Allentown to Harrisburg and 51 mph driving from Harrisburg to Pittsburg. If she drove a total of 288 miles in 6 hours, then how long did it take her to drive from Harrisburg to Pittsburg?
Amt. (miles) Rate(mph) Total (Hrs)

x 42 42x
y 51 51y
288 6

Equations: x+y=288 and i think 42x+51y=6
Answer by KMST(5328) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If x and y are amounts in miles (distances), you would not multiply them by the speed in mph to find the time in hours.
If you drive to a city 60 miles away at a speed of 60 mph, how many hours does it take you?
(60miles)/(60miles/1hour) = 1 hour
You divide the distance in miles by the speed. The faster you drive, the less time it will take.
would be your second equation and the expressions in the last/right column of your table.
It may be easier to solve if a is the time for the Allentown to Harrisburg trip in hours, and b is the time for the Harrisburg to Pittsburg trip. After all, what you have to find is b, the time for the Harrisburg to Pittsburg trip. But I think I would set the problem this way, even if they asked for distances.
So
and

Find b for your answer.