Math Problem Statement

a person drives witha constant speed of 89.5 km/hour except for a 22 minute rest stop. if the person's average speed is 77.8 km/hour, how far is the trip?

Solution

To solve this problem, we'll use the relationship between distance, speed, and time, which is given by the formula:

Distance=Speed×Time\text{Distance} = \text{Speed} \times \text{Time}

Step 1: Express the average speed formula

The average speed vavg\text{v}_{\text{avg}} is given by:

vavg=Total DistanceTotal Time\text{v}_{\text{avg}} = \frac{\text{Total Distance}}{\text{Total Time}}

Let's denote:

  • DD as the total distance of the trip.
  • TT as the driving time without the rest stop.
  • TrestT_{\text{rest}} as the duration of the rest stop in hours.
  • TtotalT_{\text{total}} as the total time, which is T+TrestT + T_{\text{rest}}.

Step 2: Convert the rest stop time to hours

The rest stop is 22 minutes, which needs to be converted to hours:

Trest=2260hours=1130hoursT_{\text{rest}} = \frac{22}{60} \, \text{hours} = \frac{11}{30} \, \text{hours}

Step 3: Set up the equations

We know:

  • The driving speed is 89.5km/h89.5 \, \text{km/h}.
  • The average speed is 77.8km/h77.8 \, \text{km/h}.

The total distance DD is covered by driving for TT hours at 89.5 km/h:

D=89.5×TD = 89.5 \times T

The average speed is:

77.8=DT+113077.8 = \frac{D}{T + \frac{11}{30}}

Step 4: Solve for the total distance DD

Substitute D=89.5×TD = 89.5 \times T into the average speed formula:

77.8=89.5×TT+113077.8 = \frac{89.5 \times T}{T + \frac{11}{30}}

Now, solve for TT first:

77.8×(T+1130)=89.5×T77.8 \times \left(T + \frac{11}{30}\right) = 89.5 \times T

77.8T+77.8×1130=89.5T77.8T + \frac{77.8 \times 11}{30} = 89.5T

77.8×1130=89.5T77.8T\frac{77.8 \times 11}{30} = 89.5T - 77.8T

77.8×1130=11.7T\frac{77.8 \times 11}{30} = 11.7T

T=77.8×1111.7×30T = \frac{77.8 \times 11}{11.7 \times 30}

Step 5: Calculate TT and DD

Now compute TT and then DD:

T855.83512.44hoursT \approx \frac{855.8}{351} \approx 2.44 \, \text{hours}

Finally, calculate the total distance:

D=89.5×2.44218.28kmD = 89.5 \times 2.44 \approx 218.28 \, \text{km}

So, the total distance of the trip is approximately 218.3 km.

Would you like a more detailed explanation, or do you have any questions?

Related Questions:

  1. What is the effect of increasing the rest stop duration on the total distance?
  2. How would the total distance change if the driving speed was 10 km/h slower?
  3. Can the average speed ever be higher than the driving speed?
  4. What if there were two rest stops of different durations?
  5. How would the calculations change if the speed varied during the trip?

Tip:

When solving problems involving average speed, remember that it accounts for the entire trip, including any stops or changes in speed, which is why it's always lower than the driving speed if there are any stops.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Speed, Distance, Time Relationships

Formulas

Distance = Speed × Time
Average Speed Formula

Theorems

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Suitable Grade Level

Grades 9-12