Question

A ship traveled for 4 hours heading east and for 3 hours heading north. If the total distance traveled was 149 miles, and the ship traveled 3 miles per hour faster heading north, at what speed was the ship traveling east?

Answer 1

D=vt,   distance is equal to velocity times time.

4v+3(v+3)=149 perform indicated multiplication

4v+3v+9=149  combine like terms on left side

7v+9=149  subtract 9 from both sides

7v=140  divide both sides by 7

v=20

So the ship traveled at a speed of 20 mph when heading east.