<PRE><B>Question 302973</B>
Smith travels 45 miles going East from the center of the town and jones travels 70 miles going west from the same point. If Jones averages 5 miles per hour more than Smith and his trip1/2 hour longer than Smith. How fast was each of them traveling.

let smith&#39;s rate be x mph

time taken by smith = 45/x hours

jones&#39;s rate = x+5 mph

time taken by jones = 70/ x+5

70 /x+5 - 45/x = 1/2

70x-45x-225=1/2 *x(x+5 )

2(25x-225)=x^2+5x

50x-450=x^2+5x

x^2-50x+5x+450=0

x^2-45x+450=0 

x^2-30x-15x+450=0

x(x-30)-15(x-30)=0

(x-30)(x-15)=0

x= 30 OR 15  mph

Ananth









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