Word Problem problem

[mikito23]

I have a word problem that I am having problem setting up. Can someone please help.

The problem is as follows:

- Mickey and Minnie both drive the same distance. By driving 25 mph faster, Mickey gets there in 3 hours, while it takes Minnie 5 hours. How fast does each drive?

 

[galactus]

Well, distance=rate *time. If you let Minnie's rate be x, then what is Mickey's since he is going 25 mph faster?.

You have the times (3 and 5 hours), you should be able to set up your equation.

Since distances are the same, for Mickey we have 3(x+25)=d.

For Minnie we have 5x=d.

Set them equal and solve for x.

 

[Unco]

We are dealing with speeds so we will define variables to represents Mickey and Minnie's speeds:

Let x be the speed of Mickey (in mph or miles/hours).
Let y be the speed of Minnie (in mph).

We are told Mickey travels 25mph faster than Minnie so:
x = y + 25

Speed is distance travelled divided time. ie. s = d/t

Therefore t = d/s, or distance divided by speed.

They both travel the same distance, and let that distance be d.

Minnie takes 5 hours to travel a distance of d:
5 =d/y [1] <- time taken = distance(d) divided Minnie's speed (y).

Mickey takes 3 hours:
3 = d/x

But we said x = y + 25, so we can substitute that in:

3 = d/(y + 25) [2]

We now have two equations to solve: [1] and [2]. Can you do this?

Hint: Use the fact that both equations have equal numerators.