Question 215307
Distance(d) equals Rate(r) times Time(t) or d=rt;r=d/t and t=d/r
Let r=average speed to their vacation lodge
time required to get to their vacation lodge=1080/r
r-6=average speed on the return trip
time required for their return trip=1080/(r-6) and we are told that this time is 2.5 hours longer then the time to get to their vacation lodge, so:

(1080/r) + 2.5=1080/(r-6)  multiply each term by r(r-6)
1080(r-6)+2.5r(r-6)=1080r get rid of parens
1080r-6480+2.5r^2-15r=1080r  subtract 1080r from each side
1080r-1080r-6480+2.5r^2-15r=1080r-1080r  collect like terms
2.5r^2-15r-6480=0 divide each term by 2.5
r^2-6r-2592=0  Quadratic in standard form and it can be factored
(r-54)(r+48)=0
r=54 mph----avarage speed to their vacation lodge
and
r=-48 mph---DISREGARD! In this case speeds are positive

CK
time to their vacation lodge=1080/54=20 hours

Time for return trip=1080/48=22.5 hours
22.5-20=2.5
2.5=2.5

Hope this helps---ptaylor