Answer:
To determine the sprinter's speed before he increased his speed, we can use the information provided in the question. The sprinter started the race slowly and then increased his speed by 14.8 miles per hour to reach a top speed of 23 miles per hour.
Let's denote the sprinter's initial speed as "x" miles per hour. After increasing his speed by 14.8 miles per hour, he reached a top speed of 23 miles per hour. Therefore, we can set up the following equation:
x + 14.8 = 23
To find the value of "x," we need to isolate it on one side of the equation. We can do this by subtracting 14.8 from both sides:
x + 14.8 - 14.8 = 23 - 14.8
This simplifies to:
x = 8.2
Therefore, the sprinter's speed before he increased his speed was 8.2 miles per hour.
Explanation: