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Question 537331:  Freddie gets a car ride to the top of a hill, then rides his skateboard back down. The downhill ride takes 15 minutes longer than the uphill.  If the car averages 32 mph, and Freddie rides his skateboard at 8 mph, find out how much time he spends skateboarding.
 
Let t=time spent driving to the top of the hill then, t+15=time going down the hill. 
distance up=distance down 
from the formula speed=distance/time(s=d/t), then d=st, 
 
32t=8(t+15) 
32t=8t+120
 
I can't get to the answer of 1/3 hour.  I keep coming up with 1/4 hour. 
 Found 2 solutions by  richwmiller, stanbon: Answer by richwmiller(17219)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! 15 minutes is 1/4 hr so t+1/4 not t+15
 
32t=8(t+1/4) 
32t=8t+2 
24t=2 
t=1/12 hour. 
t=5 minutes 
5+15=20 minutes 
20/60=1/3 hour  skateboarding
 
If you use t+15 then you get t=5 but 5 means 5 hours not 5 minutes!!! 
 Answer by stanbon(75887)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! Freddie gets a car ride to the top of a hill, then rides his skateboard back down.  
The downhill ride takes 15 minutes longer than the uphill.  
If the car averages 32 mph, and Freddie rides his skateboard at 8 mph, find out how much time he spends skateboarding. 
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Drive up DATA: 
rate = 32 mph ; time = t hrs ; distance = 32t miles 
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Skate down DATA: 
rate = 8 mph ; time = t+(1/4) hrs ; distance = 8(t+(1/4)) miles 
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Equation: 
distance up = distance down: 
32t = 8t+2 
24t = 2 
time = 1/12 hr = 5 minutes (time up) 
time down = 5 min + 15 min = 20 min (time down) 
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Total skate time = 20 min = 1/3 hr. 
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Cheers, 
Stan H. 
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