Answer:
![\boxed {\boxed {\sf C. \ 20 \ m/s }}](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/physics/college/h3csi5szbbwca24twd1er81kkfk98mtyx4.png)
Step-by-step explanation:
We are asked to find the initial speed of a car.
We are given the final speed, the time, and the acceleration, so we will use the following kinematic equation:
![v_f=v_i+at](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/physics/high-school/8m4jl9zzoflkgmccro13goqksqe5qtxeto.png)
We know the final speed is 40 meters per second, the acceleration is 4 meters per second squared, and the time is 5 seconds.
= 40 m/s - t= 5 s
- a= 4 m/s²
Substitute the values into the formula.
![40 \ m/s = v_i+(4 \ m/s^2 * 5 \ s)](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/physics/college/xljyzyavus8nwznk3kn74ky09a910qfq34.png)
Multiply inside the parentheses.
![40 \ m/s =v_i+ 20 \ m/s](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/physics/college/nq4uj53uq9a4l64iuddyfx7nontf5t7cwl.png)
We are solving for the initial speed, so we must isolate the variable
.
20 meters per second is being added to
. The inverse operation of addition is subtraction. Subtract 20 m/s from both sides of the equation.
![40 \ m/s - 20 \ m/s = v_i + 20 \ m/s - 20 \ m/s](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/physics/college/z2ki2jq556kgh8rg3usfjcp513z28fiqqd.png)
![40 \ m/s - 20 m/ s = v_i](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/physics/college/6bu3s1f66e5j9rccc34ykkm6809f6f2eh0.png)
![20 \ m/s=v_i](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/physics/college/frw332jpfc46pushsefcir0cfiu3t7xfuj.png)
The initial speed of the car is 20 meters per second and choice C is correct.