As posted, your question here is not clear. Are the 3 mentioned towns in a straight line, and that Grotyns is in between Knossos and Phaistos?
The given information seem to show that. I assume that is so.
Draw on paper or imagine the figure.
It is a straight line segment PGK. A car from point P is to go to point K; a car from point K is to go to point P. The two cars have different constant speeds. They start on the same time, and they pass each other at point G.
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Let:
PG = a = distance from Phaistos to Gortyns, in km.
KG = b = distance from Knossos to Gortyns, in km.
PK = KP = distance from Knossos to Phaistos, in km.
"The distance from Knossos to Gortyns is 10km more then the distance from Phaistos to Gortyns."
So,
b = a+10 ----(i)
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Let s = speed of car from Phaistos, in km/hr.
And r = speed of car from Knossos, in km/hr.
"The car from Knossos travels 20km/h faster than the car from Phaistos."
So,
r = s+20 ----(ii)
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Distance = rate*time = speed*time
"The car from Phaistos completed the journey from Gortyns to Knossos in 35mins."
Our speeds are in km/hr, so we convert 35 minutes into hr.
Hence,
b = s*(35/60) = s(7/12) ---(iii)
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Distance = rate*time
So, time = distance / rate
"...left...at the same time..., passing each other at Gortyns..."
That means they spent the same time when they met at Gortyns.
So,
a/s = b/r ----(iv)
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We have four unknowns (a,b,r,s) and four independent equations.
Solvable.
We eliminate b and r from (iv).
Substitute the b from (i), and the r from (ii), into (iv),
a/s = (a+10)/(s+20)
Cross multiply,
a(s+20) = s(a+10)
as +20a = as +10s
20a = 10s
2a = s ----(v)
b from (i) = b from (iii),
a+10 = s(7/12)
s = (a+10)/(7/12)
s = 12(a+10)/7 ----(vi)
s from (v) = s from (vi),
2a = 12(a+10)/7
7*2a = 12(a+10)
14a = 12a +120
14a -12a = 120
2a = 120
a = 120/2 = 60 km ---***
Substitute that into (i),
b = a+10 = 60 +10 = 70 km ---***
Therefore, distance from Knossos to Phaistos = a+b = 60+70 = 130 km. ----answer.
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On second thought, Knossos, Gortyns and Phaistos don't have to be in a straight line.
Last edited by ticbol; June 7th, 2005 at 03:52 AM.
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