Problema Solution

Brian and Jake left there homes, which are 500 miles apart, and drove straight towards each other, it took 4 hours for the two to meet. If jakes speed is 15 mph slower then Brian's, what was Brian's speed?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


v1 = the speed of Jake


v2 = the speed of Brian


t = 4 hr the time


d = 500 mi the distance


since distance = speed*time we have


v1t + v2t = d


t(v1 + v2) = d


4(v1 + v2) = 500 divide both sides by 4


v1 + v2 = 125


Jake's speed is 15 mph slower then Brian's:


v1 = v2 - 15


by solving the system of equations:


v1 + v2 = 125


v1 = v2 - 15


we find:


v1 = 55 mph


v2 = 70 mph


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Brian's speed is 70 mph.