Problema Solution

In the morning Maria drove to an business appointment at 40 mph. Her average speed on the return trip was 30 mph. the return trip to one-third of an hour longer because of heavy traffic. How far did she travel to her appointment?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


v1 = 40 mph Maria's average speed to the appointment


v2 = 30 mph Maria's average speed of the return trip


t1 = the time of the trip to the appointment


t2 = the time of the return trip


d = the distance


the return trip to one-third of an hour longer because of heavy traffic:


t2 = t1 + 1/3


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


t2 = d/v2


t2 = d/30


t1 = d/v1


t1 = d/40


plug t1 = d/40 and t2 = d/30 into t2 = t1 + 1/3:


d/30 = d/40 + 1/3


by solving we find:


d = 40 mi


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Maria traveled 40 miles to get to her appointment.