Problema Solution

Lewiston and Vernonville are 144 miles apart. A car leaves Lewiston traveling towards Vernonville and another car leaves Vernonville at the same time, traveling towards Lewiston. The car leaving Lewiston averages 10 miles per hour more than 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 average speed of the car leaving Vernonville


v + 10 = the average speed of the car leaving Lewiston


d = 144 mi the distance between Lewiston and Vernonville


t = 1 hr 36 min = 1 + 36/60 hr = 1.6 hr the time of the travel


since speed = distance/time follows distance = speed*time


vt + (v + 10)t = d


1.6v + 1.6(v + 10) = 144


by solving we find:


v = 40 mph


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v + 10 = 40 + 10 = 50 mph


the average speed of the cars are:


the average speed of the car leaving Vernonville is 40 mph.


the average speed of the car leaving Lewiston is 50 mph.