Question 157256
A moving walkway at an airport is 65.0 m long. A child running at a constant
 speed takes 20.0 s to run along the walkway in the direction it is moving,
 and then 52.0 s to run all the way back. What are the speed of the walkway
 and the speed of the child?
:
Let x = speed of the child (meter/sec)
Let y = speed of the moving sidewalk
then we can say:
(x+y) = speed with the walkway
(x-y) = speed against the walkway
:
Write a distance equation for each trip: Dist = time * speed
:
20(x+y) = 65
52(x-y) = 65
:\
20x + 20y = 65
52x - 52y = 65
:
Multiply 1st equation by 52 and 2nd equation by 20, results:
1040x + 1040y = 3380
1040x - 1040y = 1300
----------------------addition eliminates y, find x
2080x + 0y  = 4680
x = {{{4680/2080}}}
x = 2.25 m/sec is the child's speed
:
Find y
20(2.25) + 20y = 65
45 + 20y = 65
20y = 65 - 45
20y = 20
y = 1 m/sec is the speed of the walkway
:
Check solution in the equation:
52(2.25-1) = 65
52(1.25) = 65
65 = 65; confirms our solutions