Problema Solution

arlington and vernonville are 128 miles apart. a car leaves arlington traveling towards vernonville at the same time, traveling towards arlington. the car leaving arlington averages 10 miles per hour faster than the other, and they meet after 1 hour and 36 minutes. what are the average speeds of the cars?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


v = the avg. speed of the car traveling from Vernonville towards Arlington

v + 10 = the avg. speed of the car traveling from Arlington towards Vernonville

t = 1 h 36 min = 1 36/60 h = 1.6 h

d = 128 mi the distance between Arlington and Vernonville


since avg. speed = distance/time => distance = speed*time


v*t + (v + 10)*t = d


v + v + 10 = d/t


2v + 10 = 128/1.6


by solving we find


v = 35 mph


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35 + 10 = 45 mph


the average speeds of the cars are 35 mph and 45 mph.