Question

Ted is a long distance driver. It took him 30 min longer to drive 275km on the Trans-Canada highway west of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, than it took him to drive 300km east of Swift Current. He averaged 10km/h less while travelling west of Swift Current due to more severe snow conditions. What was Ted's average speed for each part of the trip?

Answer 1

Speed traveling west = x - 10 km /hr

275 / ( x-10) - 300 / x = 1/2

275 *2x - 300 (x-10)*2 = ( x-10) *x

550x - 600x +6000 = x^2 -10x

x^2 +40x - 6000 = 0

( x -60) ( x+100) = 0

x = 60

ANSWER East = 60 km/ hr West = 50 km /hr

CHECK

300 /60 = 5 hours

275 /50 = 5.5 hours