Problema Solution

Matt left school driving toward the lake 5 hours before Ashley. She drove in the opposite direction going 35 mph slower than Matt for 1 hour after which time they were 525 miles apart. What was Matt's speed?

Answer provided by our tutors

let 's' represent Matt's speed in mph, then 's-35' represents Ashley's speed in mph


Matt drove for 5+1 = 6 hours

Ashley drove for 1 hour


distance = speed * time


they are driving in opposite directions, so we sum they distance expressions:

525 = 6s + 1(s-35)

solving for 's' we have s=80


80-35 = 45


Matt drove 80mph, Ashley drove 45mph