Question

Mark made a business trip of 259.5 miles. He averaged 59mph for the first part of the trip and 57mph for the second part. If the trip took 4.5 hours, how long did he travel at each rate?

Answer 1

Explanation:

d = r * t

Let the time at 59 miles / hour be t

59*t + 57* (4.5 - t) = 259.5 Remove the brackets

59*t + 256.5 - 57*t = 259.5 Combine the left

2t + 256.5 = 259.5 Subtract 228 from both sides

2t = 259.5 - 256.5 Combine

2t = 3 Divide by 2

t = 1.5

So he spent 1.5 hours going at 59 miles per hour

He spent 4.5 - 1.5 = 3 hours going 57 miles per hour.