SOLUTION: Mrs. Thomas walked 160 feet on a moving walkway in 40 seconds. Against the walkway she was able to walk the same distance in 80 seconds. What is the rate of the escalator? (How fas

Click here to see ALL problems on Mixture Word Problems

Question 695784: Mrs. Thomas walked 160 feet on a moving walkway in 40 seconds. Against the walkway she was able to walk the same distance in 80 seconds. What is the rate of the escalator? (How fast)
What is Mrs. Thomas' normal rate? (How fast)
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Mrs. Thomas walked 160 feet on a moving walkway in 40 seconds.
Against the walkway she was able to walk the same distance in 80 seconds.
What is the rate of the escalator? (How fast)
What is Mrs. Thomas' normal rate? (How fast)\
:
let w = the normal walking rate
let e = the escalator rate
then
(w+e) = the effective rate walking with the escalator
and
(w-e) = the effective rate walking against the escalator
:
Write a distance equation for each scenario
:
40(w+e) = 160
and
80(w-e) = 160
:
Simplify both equation; divide the 1st one by 40, the 2nd one by 80, results:
w + e = 4
w - e = 2
-----------adding eliminates e find w
2w = 6
w = 3 ft/sec is the normal walk rate
then
3 + e = 4
e = 4 -3
e = 1 ft/sec is the escalator rate
:
:
You can confirms this in both original equations