69.1k views
0 votes
a car travels 120 mi. a second car, travelling 10 mph faster than the first car, makes the same trip in 1 hr less time. find the speed of each car.

1 Answer

1 vote

Let x be the speed of the first car, then (x + 10) is the speed of the second car.

We can write the equation by the condition of the problem:


(120)/(x)- (120)/(x+10)=1 \\ 120(x+10)-120(x)=1(x)(x+10) \\ 120x+1200-120x=x^2+10x \\ x^2+10x-1200=0 \\ D=b^2-4ac=10^2-4*1*(-1200) = 100+4800 = 4900 \\ x_(1,2)= (-bб √(D) )/(2a) \\ \\ x_1= (-10- √(4900) )/(2)= (-10-70)/(2) = -(80)/(2)=-40 \ \ \ \O


x_2= (-10+ √(4900) )/(2)= (-10+70)/(2) = (60)/(2)=30 mph speed ​​of the first car

Then 30+10=40 mph speed ​​of the second car

Answer: 30mph and 40 mph.


I hope this helps.
User Laurence Mommers
by
6.5k points