Question

1. The graphs show the distance, d, traveled by two cars, A and B, over time, T Distance is measured in miles and time is measured in hours. Which car traveled slower? Explain how you know.

Answer 1

A slower car will travel less distance in the same time.

To know which car traveled slower, we have to compare the distance travelled for the same time, for example t = 3 hours. We can select any time because the speeds are constant (that is why the distance is a proportional function of time).

We can compare them in the graph as:

In the graph we can see that, in 3 hours, car B traveled a longer distance than car A.

Then car A is slower.

Answer: the slower car is car A.