Question 170448
Two cars started from the same point and traveled on a straight course in opposite directions for exactly 2 hours, at which time they were 208 miles apart. If one car traveled, on average, 8 mph faster than the other car, what was the average speed for each car for the 2-hour trip?
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Let x = speed of one car
then because "one car traveled, on average, 8 mph faster than the other car"
x+8 = speed of second car
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Applying "distance formula":
d = rt
where
d is distance
r is rate or speed
t is time
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"distance traveled by car one" + "distance traveled by car two" = 208
2x + 2(x+8) = 208
2x + 2x + 16 = 208
4x + 16 = 208
4x = 192
x = 48 mph (speed of one car)
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Second car:
x+8 = 48+8 = 56 mph (speed of second car)