Answer:
The distance between the cities is 50*4.5 = 225 miles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Let "t" be the time spent on the first leg at the average speed of 50 miles per hour.
Then (t+0.5) is the time spent on the returning trip at the average speed of 45 miles per hour.
Since the distance is the same in both directions, you have an equation
50*t = 45*(t+0.5).
Simplify and solve it for "t".
50t = 45t + 22.5,
5t = 22.5
Divide both sides by 5
t = 22.5/5
= 4.5.
Thus we found the time spent at the speed 50 mph. It is 4.5 hours.
Thus the distance between the cities is 50*4.5 = 225 miles