Elementary Algebra

Published by Cengage Learning

Chapter 3 - Equations and Problem Solving - 3.5 - Problem Solving - Problem Set 3.5: 18

Answer

The speed of the first car is 50 miles per hour. The speed of the second car is 54 miles per hour.

Work Step by Step

Let X represent the speed of the the first car. The speed of the second car is X + 4. After 5 hours, the first car is 5 $\times$ X miles right from the point where it started. After 5 hours, the second car is 5 $\times$ (X + 4) miles left from the point where it started. Their distance after 5 hours is the distance between the point in the right and the point in the left. Since this distance equals 520 miles, we set up the following equation: 5 $\times$ X + 5 $\times$ (X + 4) = 520 5X + 5X + 20 = 520 10X + 20 = 520 10X = 500 Divide both sides by 10. X = 50 The speed of the first car is 50 miles per hour. The speed of the second car is X + 4 = 50 + 4 = 54 miles per hour.

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