Thread: Algebra question involving speed and distance

Thomas was walking to the store at a brisk 4.5 mph pace. When he reached the store he met his friend Blake and together they walked back at a 3.0 mph pace. Thomas's trip was a total of 1 hour.

A how long did it take him to walk to the store?

B. What is the distance to the store?

Can someone please show me how go set these up? It's been 8 years si nce I last did algebra and I am finding out I have forgotten a lot.

Call the time took him to walk to the store, in hours, $\displaystyle t_1$. Since "distance= time*speed" the distance to the store is $\displaystyle d= 4.1t_1$ miles. Call the time it took them to walk back from the store, in hours, $\displaystyle t_2$. Then we also have $\displaystyle d= .0t_2$. Of course, the distance to the store is the same as the distance back so we have $\displaystyle d= 4.1t_1= 3.0t_2$. We also are told that the total time is $\displaystyle t_1+ t_2= 1$.

Where do you get the 4.1 from?

Originally Posted by Nightgal

Where do you get the 4.1 from?

It was a typo. d = 4.5*t

-Dan