Final answer:
Both cars had the same average speed of 8 meters per second during their respective periods of travel.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question you've asked pertains to the average speed of two cars during their travels, even though they are moving in opposite directions. If one car travels 40 meters due east in 5.0 seconds, its average speed is 40 meters ÷ 5.0 seconds = 8 meters per second (m/s). Similarly, if the second car travels 64 meters due west in 8.0 seconds, its average speed is 64 meters ÷ 8.0 seconds = 8 meters per second (m/s). Therefore, during their periods of travel, the cars definitely had the same average speed.