Final answer:
To find out how many hours Suzette ran, we used a system of equations with the total distance and total time for running and biking. Solving the system, we determined that Suzette ran for 1.5 hours.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine how many hours Suzette ran, we can use the total distance and the total time given for running and biking activities, alongside her average speeds for each activity. We will then set up a system of equations that account for the distances and times and solve for the time Suzette spent running.
Let r be the time spent running and b be the time spent biking. We are given:
Total time: r + b = 3.5 hours
Total distance: 6r + 12.5b = 34 miles (6 mph is the running speed, 12.5 mph is the biking speed)
Now we'll solve this system of equations:
Substitute b from the first equation into the second equation: 6r + 12.5(3.5 - r) = 34.
Simplify and solve for r: 6r + 43.75 - 12.5r = 34.
This simplifies further to -6.5r = -9.75, hence r = 1.5.
Suzette ran for 1.5 hours.