Rate, Time, and Distance

Question

Sarah and John leave John's house traveling in opposite directions. Sarah drives 12 mph faster than John. After 2 hours of driving they are 176 miles apart. What is each person's speed?

Answer 1

J= John's speed

S = Sarah's speed = J + 12

Translate English into math (equation):

2J + 2S = 176 = 2J + 2(J + 12)

4J + 24 = 176

4J = 152 => J = 38 and S = 50

You should take these 2 values and plug into the original problem to be sure they solve the problem.