SOLUTION: I don't understand how to solve this word problem: A farmer sets out to drive 170km on a highway. His car breaks down and he completes his journey on foot. If his average car speed
Question 759451: I don't understand how to solve this word problem: A farmer sets out to drive 170km on a highway. His car breaks down and he completes his journey on foot. If his average car speed if 105km/h, his walking speed is 6km/h and he completes the trip in 7h, how long did he walk and how far?
I tried solving by elimination by using the equations #1 and #2 but the answers I got didn't work. Answer by josgarithmetic(39631) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! NOTE: You seemed to have only made a transpositional, copy mistake; and if you had not, your result would have probably worked with no difficulty... See final comments below.
d=driving speed
w=walking speed
x=?
Kind of Move______speed_________time____________distance
Driving___________105___________(___)___________(___)
Walking___________6_____________(___)___________(___)
Total____________________________7______________170
Interesting, we do not know the separate times and we do not know their corresponding distances. They must be based on two different variables for the time portions.
Let's use d and w for each time portion:
Kind of Move______speed_________time____________distance
Driving___________105___________(d)___________(105d)
Walking___________6_____________(w)___________(6w)
Total____________________________7______________170
You have enough information to form two equations. d is time spent driving and w is time spent walking.
and
You made a small symbolism mistranspose mistake and that is what stopped you from getting a sensible result. Look at the system of equations! Almost the same as yours; just need "105" instead of "150".
Try the job again and you should find your answer will work!
(