Problema Solution
the winner of a 2-mile bicycle race finishes 2 minutes ahead of a teammate and travels, on average, 2 miles per hour faster than the teammate. find the average speed per racer.
Answer provided by our tutors
let
d = 2 mi is the distance of the race
v = the average speed of the slower teammate
v + 2 = the average speed of the winner, v>0
t = the time of the slower teammate
t - 2/60 = the time of the winner
since speed = distance/time we have:
for the slower teammate
v = d/t
v = 2/t
t = 2/v
for the winner:
v + 2 = 2/(t - 2)
plug t = 2/v into the last equation:
v + 2 = 2/(2/v - 2)
by solving we find:
v = 0.73 mph
click here to see the step by step solution of the equation:
v + 2 = 0.73 + 2 = 2.73 mph
the average speed of the winner is 2.73 mph.
the average speed of the teammate is 0.73 mph.