SOLUTION: Lewiston and Vernonville are 208 apart. A car leaves Lewiston traveling towards Vernonville, and another car leaves Vernonville at the same time, traveling towards Lewiston. The ca

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Question 862943: Lewiston and Vernonville are 208 apart. A car leaves Lewiston traveling towards Vernonville, and another car leaves Vernonville at the same time, traveling towards Lewiston. The car leaving Lewiston average 10 miles per hour more than the other, and they meet after 1 hour and 36 minutes. What are average speeds of the cars?
The car leaving Lewiston averages __ mph.
The care leaving Vernonville averages __ mph.
Answer by JulietG(1812) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
In 1 hour and 36 minutes, the cars travel a total of 208 miles.
(a + b)* 1 = 208
car a = b+10 (10mph faster)
((b+10) + b)* 1 = 208
(2b+10)* 1.6 = 208
Divide each side by 1.6
2b + 10 = 130
Subtract 10 from each side
2b = 120
b = 60
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If car b is traveling 60 mph, then car a is traveling 70 mph.
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Let's plug this in to make sure we're correct.
Car b travels 60 miles in the first hour, and 60*.6 in the partial hour - 96 miles total
Car a travels 70 miles in the first hour, and 70*.6 in the partial hour - 112 miles total
96 + 112 = 208
Success!