Question

A ship traveled for 4 hours heading south and for 5 hours headed west. If the total distance traveled was 191 miles, and the ship traveled 4 miles per hour faster heading west, at what speed was the ship traveling west?

Answer 1

The distance: d = v * t
d = v * 4 + 5 * ( v + 4 )
191 = 4 v + 5 v + 20
9 v = 191 - 20
9 v = 171
v = 171 : 9
v = 19 mph ( the speed heading south )
Therefore the speed heading west: v + 4 = 19 + 4 = 23 mph
Answer: The ship was traveling west at 23 miles per hour.