Answer:
the formula: Speed = Distance / Time.
Let's break down the problem into two parts:
a) Find the average speed of the motorist.
Let's assume the average speed of the motorist is "v" km/h.
The distance the motorist traveled in 1 1/2 hours is given by: Distance = Speed × Time = v × (3/2) km.
The distance the cyclist traveled in 1 1/2 hours (opposite direction) is given by: Distance = Speed × Time = 45 × (3/2) km.
Since they passed each other, the sum of their distances should be equal to the distance between Town A and Town B.
So, we can set up the equation: v × (3/2) + 45 × (3/2) = Distance between Town A and Town B.
b) Find the distance between Town A and Town B.
When the motorist reached Town B 2 hours later, the cyclist was 30 km away from Town A.
We can set up the equation: Distance between Town A and Town B = v × 2 + 30.
Now, let's solve the equations:
v × (3/2) + 45 × (3/2) = v × 2 + 30.
Simplifying the equation, we have: (3v + 135)/2 = 2v + 30.
Multiplying both sides of the equation by 2 to eliminate the fraction, we get: 3v + 135 = 4v + 60.
Subtracting 3v from both sides of the equation, we have: v = 75.
Therefore, the average speed of the motorist is 75 km/h.
To find the distance between Town A and Town B, we substitute the value of v into the equation:
Distance between Town A and Town B = v × 2 + 30 = 75 × 2 + 30 = 150 + 30 = 180 km.
Therefore, the distance between Town A and Town B is 180 km.