Question

A person goes to office at 3 km/hr and returns back tired at a speed of 2 km/hr. If she takes 5 hrs in all, what is the distance between his home and the office?

Answer 1

STEP 1: Define x:

Let x be the number of hours he takes to go to work

Time needed for the returned trip = 5 - x

................................................................................................................

STEP 2: Express the distance for his trip to office:

Distance = Speed x Time

Distance = 3x

................................................................................................................

STEP 3: Express the distance for the trip back home:

Distance = 2(5 - x)

.................................................................................................................

STEP 4: Form equation:

Since both the distance are the same

3x = 2(5 - x)

.................................................................................................................

STEP 5: Solve x:

3x = 2(5 - x)

3x = 10 - 2x

5x = 10

x = 2 hour

.................................................................................................................

STEP 6: Find Distance

Distance = 3x = 3(2) = 6 km

................................................................................................................

Answer: The distance is 6km