Question

In a triathlon, Kailee swam for 1 hour, biked for 1.75 hours, and ran for 1 hour. Her average biking speed was 2 times her average running speed, and her average running speed was 8 times her average swimming speed. The total distance of the triathlon was 55.5 kilometers. Write an equation and solve it to find Kailee’s average swimming speed in kilometers per hour.

The problem tells you to make a sketch, a table, and equation but I only want an equation please. No answer either.

Answer 1

Swimming speed, S = 1.50 km/hr

Explanation:

Let Kailee's running speed be R

Let Kailee's biking speed be B

Let Kailee's swimming speed be S

Given the following data;

Time for swimming = 1 hour.

Time for biking = 1.75 hour.

Time for running = 1 hour.

Total distance = 55.5km

Translating the word problem into an algebraic equation, we have;

Biking speed = 2*8S = 16S

Running speed = 8S

We know that the distance covered by an object or body is given by the formula;

`Distance = speed * time`

Now we would find the distance covered in each activity (biking, running and swimming).

For biking;

`Distance, D_(1) = 1.75*16S`

Distance,
`D_(1)` = 28S

For running;

`Distance, D_(2) = 1*8S`

Distance,
`D_(2)` = 8S

For swimming;

`Distance, D_(3) = 1*S`

Distance,
`D_(3)` = S

The equation for the total distance covered in the triathlon is given by;

Total distance = sum of all distances covered

`Total distance = D_(1) + D_(2) + D_(3)`

Substituting into the equation, we have;

`55.5 = 28S + 8S + S`

`55.5 = 37S`

`S = \frac {55.5}{37}`

S = 1.50 km/hr

Therefore, Kailee’s average swimming speed is 1.50 kilometers per hour.