Question

brain and jake left their homes, which are 500 miles apart, and drove straight toward each other. it took 4 hours for the two to meet. if jakes speed was 15 mph slower than brians speed, what was brians speed?

Answer 1

Let the speed of Brian = X

Brian drove at X miles per hour for 4 hours

Jake drove at X-15 for 4 hours

Set up an equation to get:

4x + 4(x-15) = 500 miles

Simplify:

4x + 4x -60 = 500

8x - 60 = 500

Add 60 to both sides:

8x = 560

Divide both sides by 8:

X = 560/8

X = 70

Brian's speed was x = 70 miles per hour.

Jake's speed was x - 15 = 70-15  = 55 miles per hour.