Final answer:
Jennifer is traveling at 7 mph, while Chelsea is traveling at 16 mph, which is derived from their combined distance apart after 8 hours and the fact that Chelsea travels 9 mph faster than Jennifer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jennifer and Chelsea both leave the park at the same time but in opposite directions. If Chelsea travels 9mph faster than Jennifer and after 8 hours they are 184 miles apart, we can use the formula distance = rate × time to find out how fast each is traveling. Let's define Jennifer's speed as j and Chelsea's speed as j + 9 mph.
Since they are traveling away from each other, their speeds add up. Their combined distance after 8 hours can be expressed as:
- (j mph × 8 hours) + ((j + 9 mph) × 8 hours) = 184 miles
- 8j + 8j + 72 = 184
- 16j + 72 = 184
- 16j = 112
- j = 7
This means Jennifer is traveling at 7 mph and Chelsea is traveling at 16 mph since 7 + 9 = 16. Through this process, we have determined the speeds of both Jennifer and Chelsea.