Joe Schmo has an appointment in Kalamazoo at 2:00 pm. If he leaves home and travels at 15 miles per hour, he will arrive at 1:00 pm; if he travels at 10 miles per hour, he will not arrive until 3:00 pm. How far is it from his home to his appointment in Kalamazoo?
Answer
60 miles. This requires some basic algebra and use of the formula distance = rate x time. Let the distance in question be d, and let t be the time it takes to travel distance d at 15 mph. Then the time it takes to travel distance d at 10 mph will be t + 2 hours. So we have the two equations:
d=15t and d=10(t+2)
So, 15t = 10(t+2)
which with a little manipulation gives t = 4.
Since d=15t we get distance d = 60 miles.
