Problema Solution

Rita rode her bike to visit a friend who lives 12 miles away. On her way there, her average speed was 5 miles per hour faster than on her way home. If Rita spent a total of 2 hour riding her bike, find the two rates . Mph to and from her friends house

Answer provided by our tutors

let


v = Rita's rate on her way home, v>0


v + 5 = Rita's rate to her friends house (On her way there, her average speed was 5 miles per hour faster than on her way home)


t = 2 hr the total time of the travel


d = 12 mi the distance Rita rode in each direction


since speed = distance/time we have time = distance/speed


the time traveling to her friends house + the time traveling back = the total time


d/(v + 5) + d/v = t


12/(v + 5) + 12/v = 2


by solving we find:


v = 10 mph


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v + 5 = 10 + 5 = 15 mph.


Rita's speed to her friends house was 15 mph.


Rita's speed on the way back was 10 mph.