A truck traveled at an average speed of 45 miles …

Mathematics Questions

A truck drove at an average rate of 45 miles per hour on the highway and 20 miles per hour once it entered the city. If it took the trip, which was 100 miles, in 3 hours, how much of it was in the city? This is for 10 points

Short Answer

To solve the problem, define variables for time spent driving on the highway (h) and in the city (c), and set up the relevant equations for distance and time. By solving the system of equations, you find that the time spent in the city is 1.4 hours and on the highway is 1.6 hours.

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Define Variables

Start by setting up your variables to simplify calculations. Let h represent the time driven on the highway and c the time spent in the city. This will help in formulating the equations based on travel time and distances.

  • h = Time on highway
  • c = Time in city

Step 2: Set Up the Equations

Formulate equations based on the total distance traveled and the total time. You have two important equations: one for the distance and one for the total time. The distance equation combines distances traveled at different speeds, while the time equation is the total travel duration.

  • Distance: 45h + 20c = 100
  • Time: h + c = 3

Step 3: Solve the System of Equations

Next, solve the equations to find the values of h and c. Start by isolating h in the time equation and substituting it into the distance equation. This will allow you to find the value of c, which represents the city driving time.

  • Substituting gives you: c = 1.4 hours
  • Use h + 1.4 = 3 to find h = 1.6 hours

Related Concepts

Variables

Quantities that represent unknown values in equations, used to simplify calculations and formulate relationships between different aspects of a problem.

Equations

Mathematical statements that assert the equality of two expressions, used to represent relationships between variables such as distance, time, and speed.

System Of Equations

A set of two or more equations with the same variables, which can be solved simultaneously to find the values of the variables that satisfy all equations.

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