SOLUTION: A man drove North on Main Street for 1,200 m. He then turned and drove South on Main Street for 1,800 m. His motion took 200 seconds. A) What was the distance that the man trave

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Travel -> SOLUTION: A man drove North on Main Street for 1,200 m. He then turned and drove South on Main Street for 1,800 m. His motion took 200 seconds. A) What was the distance that the man trave      Log On

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Question 840153: A man drove North on Main Street for 1,200 m. He then turned and drove South on Main Street for 1,800 m. His motion took 200 seconds.
A) What was the distance that the man traveled?
B) What was the mans displacement?
C) What was the mans speed?
D) What was the mans velocity?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39630) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
r= unknown speed
r is in meters per seconds
time is in seconds

________________speed___________time____________distance
North___________r_______________(___)___________1200
South___________r_______________(___)___________1800
Total__________________________200

R%2AT=D which means T=D%2FR. Fill in the time expressions:

________________speed___________time____________distance
North___________r_______________1200/r___________1200
South___________r_______________1800/r___________1800
Total__________________________200

Most important first equation to solve is 1200%2Fr%2B1800%2Fr=200.
Simplify and solve for r.
%2812%2B18%29%2Fr=2
30%2Fr=2
30%2F2=r
highlight%28r=15%29 meters per second

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(A) total distance traveled 1200+1800=3000 meters.
(B) actual displacement, because he backtracked is 1800-1200=600 meters.

The speed was just solved, either direction, as r=15.
(D) VELOCITY? This is speed AND direction.
600 meters SOUTH in 200 seconds, SOUTH 600%2F200=highlight%283%2F2=1.5%29 meters per second.