COolguy101 wrote:
Two people walk the same distance of 15 miles, in which A spends 15 minutes less than B, and the speed of B is 10 miles/h slower than the speed of A. What is the speed of B?
The speed of B is 10 miles/h slower than the speed of ALet x = B's speed (in miles per hour)
So, x + 10 = A's speed (in miles per hour)
A spends 15 minutes less than BTime = distance/rateSo, B's travel time = 15/x
And A's travel time = 15/(x + 10)
Since we're dealing with rates measured in miles per HOUR, will convert 15 minutes to 0.25 HOURS
We can write: (A's travel time) = (B's travel time) - 0.25
Substitute to get: 15/(x + 10) = 15/x - 0.25
To solve for x, will first multiply both sides of the equation by (x + 10) to get: 15 = 15(x + 10)/x - 0.25(x + 10)
Then we'll multiply both sides of the equation by x to get: 15x = 15(x + 10) - 0.25(x + 10)(x)
Expand: 15x = 15x + 150 - 0.25x² + 2.5x
Subtract 15x from both sides: 0 = 150 - 0.25x² - 2.5x
To make matters easier, let's multiply both sides of the equation by 4 to get: 0 = 600 - x² - 10x
Rearrange to get: x² + 10x - 600 = 0
Factor: (x - 20)(x + 30) = 0
So, x = 20 or x = -30
Since B's cannot be negative, the correct answer is 20