Problema Solution

Fritz normally commutes at an average speed of 40 miles per hour, but this morning's heavy traffic held him to only 30 miles per hour. He must determine whether he can drive home fast enough this evening to maitain his usual round-trip average speed.

Answer provided by our tutors

let


v1 = 40 mph

t = the time he usually travels

v2 = 30 mph

t1 = the time he drives with 30 mph

t2 = the rest of the time

v = the new speed to maintain his usual round-trip average speed


average speed = distance/time


d = 40t


first he drives t1 hours with 30 mph that is a distance of 30t1


then he drives t2 hours with a new speed v that is a distance of t2*v


30t1 + t2*v = 40*t


solve by v


v = (40t - 30t1)/t2


the rest of the trip he needs to drive with speed v = (40t - 30t1)/t2 to maintain his usual round-trip average speed.