Doomtown is 300 miles due west of Sagebrush and Joshua is due west of Doomtown. At 9 a.m. Mr. Archer leaves Sagebrush for Joshua. At 1 p.m. Mr. Sassoon leaves Doomtown for Joshua. If Mr. Archer travels at an average speed 20 mph faster than Mr. Sassoon and they each reach Joshua at 4 p.m., how fast is each traveling?
Accepted Solution
A:
Refer to the diagram shown below.
Let the distance that Sassoon travels is d miles. Let his average speed be x mph. The time of travel is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., which is 3 hours. Therefore 3x = d (1)
The distance that Archer travels is (d + 300) miles. The time of travel is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., which is 7 hours. The average traveling speed is (x + 20) mph, therefore 7(x + 20) = d + 300 That is, 7x + 140 = d + 300 7x = d + 160 (2)
Subtract (1) from (2). 7x - 3x = d + 160 - d 4x = 160 x = 40 mph (Sassoon's average speed) x+20 = 60 mph (Archer's average speed) From (1), obtain d = 120 mi
Answer: Archer's speed is 60 mph. Sassoon's speed is 40 mph.