Question 180852
a train normally travels 240km at a certain speed. one day, due to bad weather, the train's speed is reduced by 20km/h so that the journey takes two hours longer. find the normal speed.
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Normal-travel DATA:
distance = 240 km ; rate = x km/h ; time = d/r = 240/x hrs
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Bad weather DATA:
distance = 240 km ; rate = (x-20) km/h ;time = 240/(x-20) hrs
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Bad time - normal time = 2 hrs
240/(x-20) - 240/x = 2
120/(x-20) - 120/x = 1

120x -120(x-20) = x(x-20)

20 = x^2 -20x 
x^2 - 20x - 20 = 0

x = [20 +- sqrt(20^2 - 4*1*-20)]/2

x = [20 +- sqrt(480)]/2

x = [20 +- 4sqrt(30)]/2

x = 10 +- 2sqrt(30)
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Cheers,
Stan H.