Solve Math Word Problem: Bickford & Shawn Speed & Times

[bushman91]

Bickford traveled twice as fast as Shawn traveled. Thus, Bickford could travel the 320 miles to the reef in only 2 hours less than it took shawn to travel the 240-miles to Jane's house. Find the rates and times of both boys.

Just having problems figuring out the formula and how to set it up.

So Shawn is x
Which would make Bickford 2x

 

[courtrigrad]

Use d = rt. So for Bickford, 320 = 2v(t-2) and for Shawn 240 = vt.

 

[bushman91]

Please explain how you set that up and the what the variables represent

 

[courtrigrad]

Distance is defined as speed \times time . Let v be the speed of Shawn. Then 2v is the speed of Bickford. Also, let t be the time it takes Shawn to travel to Jane's house. Using the equation d = vt (where v is the speed) we can set up two equations with two unknowns.

Bickford's speed is 2v and his time is t-2 (two hours less time than Shawn) and he travels 320 miles. So we have 320 = 2v(t-2).

Shawn's speed is v and his time is t and he travels 240 miles. So we have 240 = vt. Can you solve for v and t?

 

[bushman91]

thanks for the help, I should be able to get it now