The complete question is ;
Teresa drove to the mountains last weekend. There was heavy traffic on the way there, and the trip took
12 hours. When Teresa drove home, there was no traffic and the trip only took 8 hours. If her average rate was 20 miles per hour faster on the trip home, how far away does Teresa live from the mountains?
Do not do any rounding.
Answer:
Teresa lives 480 miles from the mountains
Step-by-step explanation:
We know that distance = rate x time
Thus, we will call rate v, and call time t and call distance d.
Now, when teresa was going to the mountain, we are told that the trip took 12 hours.
Thus, distance covered is; d = v x 12
d = 12v - - - - - (eq1)
Now, when Teresa was going home we are told the trip took 8 hours and the rate of change was 20 miles per hour faster. This means that rate of change is v + 20 since the rate of change on the trip to the mountain was v.
Thus,
d = (v + 20) x 8 - - - - (2)
Equating eq(1) to eq(2), we have;
12v = 8(v + 20)
Expanding, we have,
12v = 8v + 160
Subtract 8v from both sides to get ;
4v = 160
Divide both sides by 4;
v = 160/4 = 40 miles per hour
Let's put this value for v in eq(1);
d = 12v = 12(40)
d = 480 miles