Question 175278
I think you have a mistake in this problem (probably why no one responded)
" After the first 1.5 miles of travel" should be "after 1.5 hrs of travel"
Assuming that is the way it should be:
:
Akram drove from Rochester to Albany, a distance of 219 miles. After the first
 1.5 hrs of travel, it started to snow and he reduced his speed by 26 miles
 per hour. It took him another 3 hours to complete the trip. 
Express, in r terms, the distance that Akram traveled in the first part of the trip.
r = initial speed. Dist = time * speed
:
d(r) = 1.5r
:
then express the distance that Akram traveled in the second part of the trip.
d(r) = 3(r-26)

 then find the speed at which Akram traveled for each part of the trip
:
Write a distance equation:
intitial speed dist + 2nd part dist = 219 mi
1.5r + 3(r-26) = 219
:
1.5r + 3r - 78 = 219
:
4.5r = 219 + 78
:
4.5r = 297
r = {{{297/4.5}}}
r = 66 mph on the 1st part of the trip
then
66 - 26 = 40 mph on the 2nd part of the trip
;
:
Check solution by adding the distances
1.5(66) + 3(40) =
99 + 120 = 219 mi, confirms our solutions