Problema Solution

lance armstrong can ride 162 miles on flat ground in 6 hours with a good breeze at is back. It takes him 10 hours to go 90 miles with the same breeze working against him. How fast is lance going on a bike and how fast is the wind speed?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


d1 = 162 miles

t1 = 6 h

b = the speed of the breeze

v = the speed of Lance with no breeze

d2 = 90 miles

t2 = 10 h


since speed = distance/time we have


riding with the wind the speed on Lance is: v + b


v + b = d1/t1


v + b = 162/6


v + b = 27


riding against the wind the speed on Lance is: v - b


v - b = d2/t2


v - b = 90/10


v - b = 9


by solving the system of equations


v + b = 27

v - b = 9


we find


v = 18 mph


b = 9 mph


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the speed of lance is 18 mph.

the wind speed is 9 mph.