Q:

Two cars are 166 miles apart and travel toward each other an the same road. They meet in 2 hours. One car travels 3mph faster than the other. What is the average speed of each car?

Accepted Solution

A:
Average speeds of each car are 43 mph and 40 mph.Solution:Given that  Distance between two cars are 166 miles. Cars are travelling towards each other on same road. Two cars meet in 2 hours.  One car travels 3mph faster than the other. Need to calculate average speed of each car. Let assume faster car be A and slower car be B Let say Speed of car B be represented by x mph As car A is faster having speed 3mph faster than slower one that is B  So Speed of car A be represented by x + 3 mph Distance traveled by car A in 2 hrs = speed x time = (x + 3 )2 = 2x + 6[tex]\text { Distance traveled by car } \mathrm{B} \text { in } 2 \text { hrs }=\text { speed } \times \text { time }=x \times 2=2 x[/tex]As both car meets after two hrs, so combined distance travelled by both cars = 166 miles2x + 6 + 2x = 166 => 4x = 160 => x = 40 Speed of Car A = x + 3 = 40 + 3 = 43 mph Speed of Car B = x = 40 mph  Hence average speeds of each car are 43 mph and 40 mph.