Question

Taylor took 6 hours to drive home from college for Thanksgiving break, a total distance of 290 miles. She was able to average 50 miles per hour for part of the trip but had to slow down to 45 miles per hour for the rest of the time due to poor weather. How many hours did she drive each speed.

PLEASE SHOW WORK/HOW TO SOLVE IT :) ​

Answer 1

• 50 mph: 4 h
• 45 mph: 2 h

Explanation:

Let t represent the time driving at 50 mi/h. Then her total distance driven (in miles) is ...

distance = speed · time

290 = 50t + 45(6-t)

20 = 5t . . . . . . . . . . . subtract 270, collect terms

4 = t . . . . . . divide by the coefficient of t

Taylor drove 4 hours at 50 miles per hour, then 2 hours at 45 miles per hour.