Problema Solution

George and Bill left town A for town B at the same time. George was riding a bicycle at a constant speed, while Bill was driving a car. Bill traveled 5 times faster than George. Bill's car broke halfway, and the rest of the way to the town B Bill traveled by foot with a speed equal to half of George's bicycle speed. Who got to B first?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


x = the speed of George riding a bicycle

t = the time of George

d = the distance from A to B


speed = distance / time => time = distance/speed


Bill traveled by car 5 times faster than George that is with a speed: 5*x

Bill traveled by food with speed equal to half of George's bicycle speed: x/2


the time that George needs to arrive from A to B is: t = d/x


the time that Bill needs to arrive from A to B is = the time traveled by car (halfway) + the time traveled by foot


(d/2)/(5*x) + (d/2)/(x/2) = (d/x)(1/10 + 1) = (d/x) * (11/10)


lets compare the two times:


(d/x) * (11/10) > d/x


the time of Bills trip > the time of Georges trip


this means that George got to town B first.