Question

Two cars are 166 miles apart and travel toward each other an the same road. They meet in 2 hours. One car travels 3mph faster than the other. What is the average speed of each car?

Answer 1

Average speeds of each car are 43 mph and 40 mph.

Solution:

Given that

Distance between two cars are 166 miles.

Cars are travelling towards each other on same road.

Two cars meet in 2 hours.

One car travels 3mph faster than the other.

Need to calculate average speed of each car.

Let assume faster car be A and slower car be B

Let say Speed of car B be represented by x mph

As car A is faster having speed 3mph faster than slower one that is B

So Speed of car A be represented by x + 3 mph

Distance traveled by car A in 2 hrs = speed x time = (x + 3 )2 = 2x + 6

`\text { Distance traveled by car } \mathrm{B} \text { in } 2 \text { hrs }=\text { speed } * \text { time }=x * 2=2 x`

As both car meets after two hrs, so combined distance travelled by both cars = 166 miles

2x + 6 + 2x = 166

=> 4x = 160

=> x = 40

Speed of Car A = x + 3 = 40 + 3 = 43 mph

Speed of Car B = x = 40 mph

Hence average speeds of each car are 43 mph and 40 mph.